Description
A Great War, Battles of Heligoland Bight and present on-board H.M.S. Lion during a Jutland VC Action, Long Service Group of 3 awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class William John Brown comprising, 1914-15 Star, (M.3315 W.J. Brown, E.R.A. 3, R.N.), 1914-1920 British War Medal, (M.3315 W.J. Brown C.E.R.A 2 R.N.), Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, GVR, (M.3315 W.J. Brown. C.E.R.A. 1, H.M.S. Vivid), very fine
William John Brown was born on the 19th of December 1889 in Devonport, Devon, he joined the Royal Navy on the 2nd of August 1911 giving his trade as Fitter & turner. He Joined H.M.S. Lion on the 4th of June 1912 serving abord her until the 22nd of November 1918. He Retired from the Royal Navy on the 1st of October 1926 being awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on the 14th of November 1926.He re-joined the Navy on the 28th of May 1929 and was pensioned again on the 1st of August 1933. He re-joined again on the 25th of September 1939 and was Discharged to Shore to resume civilian employment on the 22nd of June 1940.
HMS Lion was a Battlecruiser built for the Royal Navy in 1910. She was the lead ship of her class, which were nicknamed the “Splendid Cats”.
Lion served as the flagship of the Grand Fleet’s ‘s battlecruisers throughout the Great War, except when she was being refitted or under repair. She sank the German light cruiser Coln during the Battle of Heligoland Bight and served as Vice Admiral David Beatty’s flagship at the battles of Dogger Bank and Jutland. She was so badly damaged at the first of these battles that she had to be towed back to port and was under repair for more than two months. During the Battle of Jutland, she suffered a serious propellant fire that could have destroyed the ship had it not been for the bravery of Major Francis Harvey, Royal Marines, the gun-turret commander, who posthumously received the Victoria Cross for having ordered the Magazine flooded. The fire destroyed one gun turret which had to be removed for rebuilding while she was under repair for several months. She spent the rest of the war on uneventful patrols in the North Sea, although she did provide distant cover during the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1917.
Sold with copy Service Papers confirming service on H.M.S. Lion from 1914 to 1918
