The James Fox Collection of Naval Awards

Three: Leading Seaman S. Higgs, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Lion at the Battle of Jutland

1914-15 Star (J.31136, S. Higgs, Ord., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.31136 S. Higgs. A.B., R.N.) mounted for display with traces of adhesive to reverse of VM; together with a gold prize medal (9ct, 7.36g), the reverse engraved ‘H.M.S. Resolution Winners Kings Cup 1922-1923 S. Higgs’; and a bronze prize medal, the reverse engraved ‘Runners-Up 1st B.S. 2nd Div. Ships Football Compt. 1922-23. Resolution’, generally very fine or better (5) £300-£400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The James Fox Collection of Naval Awards.

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Sydney Higgs was born in Stone, Staffordshire in May 1897. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in May 1914, and advanced to Leading Seaman in January 1919. Higgs served with H.M.S. Lion (battle cruiser) from January 1915, and served with her at the Battle of Jutland where she was Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty’s fleet flagship of the Battle Cruiser Fleet. The Lion was hit a total of 14 times during the battle, including sustaining near-catastrophic damage to Q-turret, and suffered 99 dead and 51 wounded. Although mortally wounded, Major Francis Harvey, Royal Marines, the Q-turret gun commander, ordered the magazine and turret to be flooded, which although costing him his life saved the magazine from exploding, which would undoubtedly have sunk the ship; for his bravery and self sacrifice he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

Higgs was discharged by purchase in August 1923.