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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 777

(x) The L.S. & G.C. awarded to Able Seaman W.H. Bessant, who served at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 aboard H.M.S. Erin

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (192744. William H. Bessant, A.B. H.M.S. Erin.), light contact marks and minor edge knock, very fine

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (173316 A.S. Allan, Ch. Writer, H.M.S. Pembroke.), about extremely fine

British War Medal 1914-18 (S.G. Ruse. L. Sto. R.N.), attempted erasure in parts, pitting and contact wear, otherwise very fine

Victory Medal 1914-19 (2019 Transport C. E.A.), silvered, contact marks, otherwise very fine

William Henry Bessant was born on 31 October 1881 at Gillingham, Kent, the eldest of five children to William H. Bessant Sr. and his wife Emily. The younger William H. Bessant first served as a Bugler, Boy 2nd Class with the Royal Navy from June 1897 with H.M.S. St. Vincent, and with her was advanced Boy 1st Class in November that same year. Posted next to Agincourt and then Pembroke, whilst with her on his eighteenth birthday Bessant formally joined for a twelve year limited term of engagement, at which time he was rated Ordinary Seaman. He found himself next promoted Able Seaman in January 1904 while stationed with Repulse. Bessant enjoyed a number of subsequent postings, including aboard Sappho, Jason, Barham, Wildfire, and Indomitable before he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve from Pembroke on 14 November 1911. During his service, Bessant found time to return home to be married to Miss Daisy Blanche Winn in Summer 1908 at Medway, Kent.

Bessant enjoyed but a few years in the reserve before being called up again on 13 July 1914 at the beginning of the First World War. He joined H.M.S. Erin on 12 August and served with her for the entirety of the War. Erin was a dreadnought battleship launched in 1913 and had been originally ordered by the Ottoman Navy. However, with the start of the First World War, she was seized by the Admiralty for service in the Royal Navy. While the majority of her war service was spent on training drills and routine patrols in the North Sea, Erin was present at the famed Battle of Jutland where she was fourth in the line of battle. Unfortunately, due to poor visibility, she only fired a few shots during the conflict and in fact was the only British ship not to fire her main guns. After the end of the war, Erin entered the reserve as a training ship and in 1920 acted as the flagship for the Nore reserve fleet. She was broken up only a few years later in 1923. Whilst with Erin, Bessant was presented with his well-deserved L.S. & G.C. Medal on 25 October 1917 and later received a gratuity in September 1919.

After the end of the conflict he was shore demobilised from Pembroke I and returned to Gillingham to live with his wife and young son Eric. They resided at 34 Waterloo Road and Bessant found work as a post man. The 1939 Register reveals the family had at least one other child, a son Percy, and Bessant continued his work as a postman. He appears to have spent the rest of his life at Gillingham, where at the age of 74 he collapsed and died at a bus stop on 15 October 1955; sold together with copied research.

Alexander Stuart Allan was born at Balmedie Lodge in Aberdeen on 28 October 1873. He made his living as a clerk prior to enlisting with the Royal Navy to complete a twelve year period of engagement from 15 March 1893, on which day he was rated a 3rd Writer and joined H.M.S. Pembroke. He next served with Northampton before returning to Pembroke with whom he was advanced 2nd Writer in March 1898.

Allan found himself further promoted 1st Writer a few years later in March 1901 whilst aboard Illustrious, and served in this rank with Pembroke, Ganges and Gleaner ahead of being rated Chief Writer in March 1905 with Jason. Following further service with Pembroke, Wildfire and Shannon, Allan finished his naval career aboard Pembroke, with whom he served from March 1912 until leaving the service in April 1916; sold together with copied service record and original H.M.S. Pembroke cap tally.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£110

Starting price
£30