Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Able Seaman L. S. Bennett, Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when H.M.S. Hampshire was sunk off Orkney on 5 June 1916

1914 Star (SX.5/112. L. S. Bennett, A.B., R.N.V.R. Howe Bttn. R.N.D.); British War and Victory Medals (S.5-112 L. S. Bennett. A.B. R.N.V.R.) good very fine (3) £300-£400

Lester Stone Bennett, a native of Hastings, Sussex, was born on 2 March 1892 and enrolled as a Bugler in the Sussex Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 10 February 1909. Advanced Able Seaman on 9 August 1914, he served during the Great War initially with the Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division, before joining H.M.S. Hampshire on 9 January 1916. He was killed in action when the Hampshire, conveying Field Marshal Lord Kitchener on a diplomatic mission to Russia, struck a German-mine off Orkney on 5 June 1916 and sank within 15 minutes with the loss of 737 lives. There were only 12 survivors. Bennett is buried in Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery, Orkney.

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