Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (236548. A. W. Holmes. A.B. H.M.S. Swiftsure.) very fine £140-£180

Albert William Holmes was born in Poplar, London, on 9 October 1888 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 8 May 1906. Promoted Able Seaman on 16 January 1909, and qualifyign asa Seaman Torpedoman in August 1911, he served in the battleship H.M.S. Swiftsure from 26 March 1913, before joining the Submarine School H.M.S. Dolphin on 14 April 1916. Posted to H.M. Submarine E46 on 1 July 1917, he was discharged dead on 5 November 1917, his service record stating ‘Accidental death. Fell down fore hatch of E46.’ A subsequent Court of Inquiry found that he had died ‘through falling down a hatchway onboard Submarine E46. No blame attributable to anyone.’ He is buried in the Royal Navy Cemetery at Haslar.

Sold with copied service papers, medal roll extracts, and other research.

Note: The recipient’s British War Medal sold in these rooms in December 1999.