Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

1914-15 Star (277811, R. Reeves, Ch. Sto., R.N.) very fine £60-£80

Richard Charles Reeves was born in London on 29 March 1875 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class in September 1894. Advanced Chief Stoker in September 1913, he was posted to H.M.S. Queen Mary and served in her from the outbreak of the Great War. He was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. During the battle H.M.S. Queen Mary, under the command of Captain C. I. Prowse, engaged the Derfflinger, putting one of her turrets out of action, and then scored four hits on SMS Seydlitz. The German battlecruiser hit back striking ´Q´ turret before sending more 12 inch shells to hit near ´A´ and ´B´ turrets before scoring another hit on ´Q´ turret. Queen Mary´s forward magazine exploded, the ship listed to port and began to sink amid more explosions. 1,266 of the crew went down with her, with only 18 men surviving. Reeves is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.