Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Nine: Engine Room Artificer First Class P. R. Rendle, Royal Navy, who survived the loss of H.M.S. Warrior at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916

1914-15 Star (M.511, P. R. Rendle, E.R.A.4., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.511 P. R. Rendle E.R.A.3 R.N.) naming feint; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (M.511 P. R. Rendle. E.R.A.1. H.M.S. Veteran.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, the first four mounted as worn, polished, good fine and better, the Second War medals with named O.H.M.S. box of issue, very fine (9) £300-£400

Percy Reginald Rendle, a boilermaker, was born in Plympton, Devon, on 30 March 1893. He joined the Royal Navy as Boy Artificer in H.M.S. Tenedos on 7 August 1908 and was advanced Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class 1 April 1913. Transferred to the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Warrior 1 July 1913, he served at the Battle of Jutland as part of the 1st Cruiser Squadron under the command of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Keith.

At 5.47 p.m. the squadron flagship, H.M.S. Defence, and H.M.S. Warrior, spotted the German 2nd Scouting Group and opened fire. Their shells fell short and the two ships turned to port in pursuit, cutting in front of the battlecruiser H.M.S. Lion, which was forced to turn away to avoid a collision. Shortly afterwards, the two ships spotted the disabled German light cruiser S.M.S. Weisbaden and closed to engage; at a distance of less than 8,000 yards the British ships were themselves suddenly spotted by the battlecruiser S.M.S. Derfflinger and four large enemy capital ships which opened up a heavy fire. H.M.S. Defence blew up at at 6.20 p.m. when hit by two salvoes which caused her magazines to detonate. H.M.S. Warrior was hit by at least fifteen 11-inch and six 5.9-inch shells, but was saved a similar fate when the enemy turned their attention towards H.M.S. Warspite which had its steering jammed.

With her deck on fire and heavy flooding throughout the ship, H.M.S. Warrior escaped further attention from the enemy through the gallantry of her engine room crew who kept her propellors rotating for long enough to escape the carnage. Taken in tow by the seaplane tender H.M.S. Engadine who took off the surviving crew of 743 sailors, it soon became clear that H.M.S. Warrior had been mortally wounded during the engagement; she was abandoned in a rising sea at 8.25 a.m. on 1 June 1916 when her upper deck was only 4 feet above the water.

Remaining in the service of the Royal Navy, Rendle was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal on 20 February 1927. Posted to the light cruiser H.M.S. Hermione during the Second War from 4 March 1941, he survived her loss on 16 June 1942 when she was sunk by the German submarine U-205 in the Mediterranean Sea; 88 crew members were killed. Rendle was subsequently release from further service on 3 September 1945.

Sold with the recipient’s original Royal Navy Certificate of Service on parchment; and copied research.