Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sergeant S. H. Day, Royal Marines, later Royal Marines Police, who served in H.M.S. Centurion at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916

British War and Victory Medals (R.M.A. 12139 Sgt. S. H. Day.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (P.O.212139 S. H. Day. Sgt. R.M.) edge bruising and contact marks, about good fine (3) £60-£80

Samuel Harry Day enlisted for the Royal Marines Artillery at Eastney on 7 January 1908 straight from school. Appointed Bugler, he was raised Gunner 4 April 1911 and Bombardier 28 April 1915. He served from 16 July 1915 aboard the dreadnought battleship Centurion, and was present during the Battle of Jutland when Centurion under Captain Sir Michael Culme-Seymour was deployed as third ship from the head of the battle line; she subsequently fired four salvoes at the battlecruiser SMS Lutzow, but without result.

Raised Sergeant on 27 October 1918, Day remained in the service of the Royal Marines and witnessed regular postings to Portsmouth, Dartmouth and Chatham. His Service Record further notes ‘enlisted in the R.M. Police’, but makes clear that he was not recommended for the naval Meritorious Service Medal, the reason for this unclear. Issued the L.S.G.C. Medal with gratuity in 1928, he remained with Royal Marines Police during the Second World War, but was discharged dead in service. His medals for Great War Service were at some point sent to R.M.A. Eastney; further entitled to 1914-15 Star.