Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Petty Officer W. Belderson, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Nottingham at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, and survived her subsequent torpedoing and sinking by U-52 on 19 August 1916 by clinging to an upturned table for two hours; he later died of burns received following an explosion in H.M.S. Sepoy on 8 April 1930

1914-15 Star (J.29333. W. Belderson Boy.1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.29333 W. Belderson. A.B. R.N.); Marine Society Reward of Merit, silver (W. Belderson 6 July 1920) mounted as worn, nearly very fine (4) £120-£160

Walter Belderson was born in Tressingfield, Suffolk, on 27 September 1898 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 13 January 1914. He served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore-based establishments, including H.M.S. Nottingham from 9 January 1915 to 26 August 1916, and was thus present in her at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, and when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-52 on 19 August 1916; according to a later newspaper report, Belderson survived the sinking by clinging to an upturned table for two hours.

Advanced Able Seaman on 5 April 1917, and Leading Seaman on 6 December 1918, Belderson was awarded his Marine Society Silver Medal in 1920, and was further promoted Petty Officer on 1 August 1921. Posted to H.M.S. Sepoy on 10 August 1929, he died from burns received as a result of an accidental explosion of a depth charge onboard H.M.S. Sepoy whilst on exercises in Hong Kong Harbour, on 8 April 1930, one of six men who were killed or died as a result of the explosion. He is buried in Happy Valley Cemetery, Hong Kong.

Sold with copied record of service and other research, including a photographic image of the recipient as part of a memorial to the six men who died in the explosion; and a postcard photograph of H.M.S. Nottingham.