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Auction: 15002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 290

A Well Documented Great War 'Jutland' Campaign Group of Four to Stoker 1st Class J.S. Thomas, Royal Navy, Who Survived the Sinking of H.M.S. Nestor, 31.5.1916
Naval General Service 1915-62, G.V.R., one clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (K.1845. J.S. Thomas. Sto. 1 Cl. H.M.S. Proserpine.); 1914-15 Star (K.1845, J.S. Thomas, Sto. 1., R.N.); British War Medal (K.1845. J.S. Thomas. Sto. 1. R.N.), suspension slightly loose; Victory Medal (1213 Pte. R.W. Thomas. 17-Lond. R. [sic]), generally very fine, with the recipient's riband bar and the following related items and documents:
- Silver War Badge, numbered 'RN22324', with named enclosure certificate
- Two Jutland Commemorative Medals, one in silver the other in white metal, both in original boxes
- Parchment Certificate of Service
- A number of documents relating to pension, having been invalided out of service
- Photograph of recipient in uniform (lot)

K1845 Stoker 1st Class Joseph Stephen Thomas (1890-1982), born Rotherhithe; enlisted Royal Navy as Stoker 2nd Class, 16.2.1909; Stoker 1st Class, 1.4.1910; service included in H.M.S. Proserpine, 7.6.1910-29.8.1912; service during the Great War included in H.M.S. Hornet (destroyer), 13.2.1915-28.4.1916; served in H.M.S. Nestor, 29.9.1916-31.5.1916; on the latter date the Nestor (Commander The Hon. Edward Bingham, R.N.) was engaged as part of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla of the Grand Fleet in action at Jutland; under the command of Bingham the Nestor led the division firstly in an attack on enemy destroyers and then on their battle cruisers; the Nestor, in company with the Nicator, closed to within 3,000 yards of the battle fleet to enable the firing of torpedoes; during this time they were under continuous heavy fire, sustaining hits to the boiler room, where Thomas was stationed; she was crippled and eventually sank; Bingham was picked up and taken POW by the Germans, he was later awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the battle; Thomas was 'Invalided' with Epilepsy to R.N. Hospital Haslar, 24.1.1918; with the gratuity and pension received he set up a small general store in the East End of London; he and his wife were 'bombed out' during the Second War, and moved to Harrow; he worked for Kodak until his retirement in 1955; in later life he stated that he was in one of the lifeboats after the crew had abandoned the Nestor; from which, given his height, he volunteered to be used as a 'human grappling hook' in order to rescue British and German sailors from the water; held by his ankles it is believed that he rescued many stricken men despite nearly being drowned several times himself; once he had returned to Portsmouth he said that he was told that he had been recommended for a bravery award for his actions at Jutland.

The Victory Medal included in the lot belonged to the recipient's younger brother Richard Thomas. The latter was killed in action on the Western Front, 25.5.1915, and it is believed that Joseph wore his brother's Victory Medal as a tribute to him.

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Sold for
£580