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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 448

Three: Stoker Petty Officer D. Davis, Royal Navy, who served on H.M.S. Inflexible at the Battle of Jutland

1914-15 Star (293223, D. Davis, S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (293223 D. Davis. Act.Ch.Sto. R.N.), very fine (3)

David Davis was born in London on 17 August 1881 and was a labourer when he joined the Royal Navy in September 1899. He had served on a number of ships prior to the Great War and was posted to Inflexible on 12 October 1910.

Davis served during the Great War on H.M.S. Inflexible and was present at the Battle of the Falkland Islands in 1914, where, together with H.M.S. Invincible, the Inflexible sank both S.M.S. Schaanhorst and S.M.S. Gneisenau. The following year, Inflexible served in the Dardenelles where she took part in the naval bombardment of the Turkish Forts and was damaged by shellfire and a mine.

In 1916 Inflexible took part in the Battle of Jutland with the Grand Fleet, damaging the German light cruiser S.M.S. Lutzow. During the engagement in which Invincible was destroyed, Inflexible saw a torpedo pass under her and was continually straddled by enemy fire. Subsequently the two surviving battlecruisers joined Beatty's Battlecruiser fleet and came under further torpedo attack. During the evening, Inflexible collided with a submerged object, presumed to be wreckage. Apart from this collision, she suffered no damage or casualties.

Later on 19 August 1916, she was attacked by U65. Davis left Inflexible on 1 May 1917 being posted to Pembroke II until 3 August 1917. Further postings included Oberon until 31 October 1917, Apollo until 21 May 1918, Pembroke II and Superb until the end of the war.

He was discharged to shore in 1921; sold together with copied service papers.

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Sold for
£240

Starting price
£60