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Auction: 26002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 122

Five: Leading Stoker E. V. Stapleton, Royal Navy, who witnessed the Messina earthquake with Duncan and went on to earn a Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., making for an unusual combination

1914-15 Star (309421. E. V. Stapleton, Sto.1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (309421 E. V. Stapleton. Act. L. Sto. R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C. (309421 (Ch. B. 10694) E. V. Stapleton. Act. L. Sto. R.F.R.); Italy, Kingdom, Messina Earthquake Medal 1908 (309.421. E. Stapleton. Sto. 1st. Cl. H.M.S. Duncan.), contact wear and minor edge bruising, overall very fine (5)

One of 607 Messina Earthquake Medals issued to H.M.S. Duncan.

Edward Victory Stapleton was born at Bromley-By-Bow, London on 19 June 1887, the son of William and Elizabeth Stapleton. Attesting with the Royal Navy on 22 January 1906 as Stoker Class II he gave his occupation as driller. Initially borne on the books of Actaeon he joined Bulwark in February 1907 and was promoted Stocker Class I with her in March.

Joining the Battleship Duncan on 18 August 1908, he was with her off Messina, Italy on 28 December that same year when the Messina earthquake struck. The men from the British ships present at the time took part in helping with the immediate relief from the disaster. Ultimately this involved digging people out of piles of rubble, the earthquake having devastated the Norman cathedral and trapped almost half the inhabitants of the city in their homes as they slept. The American consulate was reduced to 'a pile of rubble' (Italy's Great Horror, by J. H. Mowbray, refers), and American Consul Arthur S. Cheney and his wife, Laura, were killed. Similar tales were experienced by the French and British consuls: Ethel Ogston, wife of the British Vice-Consul, being killed instantly after being struck by a falling balcony as she attempted to escape through the streets with her family.

Returning to service Stapleton went ashore in 1911 and was advanced Leading Stoker on 13 June 1912. Joining the Royal Fleet Reserve on 25 April 1914 he returned to service on the outbreak of the Great War. Entering the conflict with the battleship Victorious, an aging battleship which served in home waters before being posted to Mars on 9 September 1915. During this period she served as a troopship in the Dardanelles, braving mines and submarines to ensure the evacuations. Stapleton must have performed well in this role as he was returned to the rank of Leading Stoker which he had lost when joining the R.F.R.

Going ashore in March 1916 he was serve there for the rest of the conflict until being demobilised on 27 March 1919. He completed some service again from 8 April-5 June 1921 before again being discharged. Awarded his L. S. & G.C. in March 1922, Stapleton settled in London and died at West Ham in March 1949; sold together with copied research.

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Estimate
£300 to £400

Starting price
£240