Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal awarded to Stoker Petty Officer M. W. Taylor, Royal Navy, one of just 20 Survivors from the sinking of H.M.S. Queen Mary at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (295746. M. W. Taylor. Ch. Sto. H. M. S. Victory) contact marks, very fine £100-£140

Marshall William Taylor, a Stone Dresser from St. Peter Port, Guernsey, was born on 10 May 1882 and joined the Royal Navy on 6 July 1900. On 4 September 1913 he joined the new battlecruiser H.M.S. Queen Mary and was serving in her at the outbreak of the Great War, soon seeing service at Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914. During the Battle of Jutland, on 31 May 1916, he was one of just 20 crew members to survive her sinking, with the loss of 1,266 lives. After his rescue and landing at Rosyth by H.M.S. Laurel the following day, he returned to sea two weeks later, joining the new destroyer H.M.S. Seymour. Advanced Chief Stoker on 29 July 1917, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 26 January 1920, and was shore pensioned on 19 July 1922. He died in Guernsey on 26 March 1962.