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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 537

Seven: Chief Stoker W. H. Foot, Royal Navy, who saw action at Jutland with H.M.S. Benbow and was aboard Kinross when she was sunk after the war in 1919, later he joined the Royal Marine Police at Plymouth for Second War Service

1914-15 Star (K.25410, W. H. Foot, Sto. 2., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.25410. W. H. Foot. Sto. 1. R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (K.25410 W. H. Foot. S.P.O. H.M.S. Emerald,); Police Long Service, E.II.R. (Inspr. William H. V. Foot), polished, light contact marks to Great War trio and sixth, overall very fine (7)

William Henry Foot was born at Devonport, Devon on 14 November 1896 and enlisted with the Royal Navy as Stoker Class II on 12 April 1915. Posted to the Battleship Benbow on 23 January 1915 he was promoted Stoker Class I with her in January 1916.

Jutland and the Great War

Benbow steamed into action at the Battle of Jutland as the lead ship of the 4th Battle Squadron and Flagship of Vice-Admiral Doveton Sturdee. She was thirteenth in the British line and became heavily engaged with the Battlecruiser Derfflinger throughout the bulk of the action. A total of forty of her 13.5-inch shells were fired and sixty 6-inch shells, some of which she directed at a Zepplin during the second day.

Foot left Benbow in 1917 and went ashore before joining Edgar in the Adriatic in March 1918. This posting was not to last long however as she was torpedoed by SM U-29 in April, this did not sink the cruiser but the damage was severe enough that she was laid up for some time and Foot was transferred away.

He joined the crew of the minesweeper Kinross on 26 August 1918 and remained with her after the end of the war, being advanced Leading Stoker in December. Kinross was clearing mines in the Aegean off Imbros on 16 June 1919 when she detonated a mine accidentally, this set off a chain reaction which holed the vessel under the port side. She quickly began to take on water and sank in less than an hour with the loss of twelve hands.

Fortunately, Foot was not among the dead and continued to serve, being advanced Stoker Petty Officer on 24 November 1926. Advanced Chief Stoker with the Battlecruiser Renown in 1931 he was pensioned from service on 11 April 1937.

Second World War

Joining the Royal Marine Police on 22 April 1937 he was still serving in this role during the Second World War. They were reinforced by a newly formed Royal Marine Police Special Reserve in 1939 and were responsible not just for policing the docks but also firefighting.

Foot died at Plymouth in July 1980; sold together with copied service papers and research relating to the Royal Marine Police.

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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£110