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Auction: 22133 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 442

Four: Able Seaman H. L. Bayton, Royal Navy, who was lost when Opal was wrecked on 12 January 1918

Naval General Service 1915-1962, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (J.6626. H. L. Bayton, A.B. H.M.S. Philomel); 1914-15 Star (J.6626. H. L. Bayton, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.6626 H. L. Bayton. A.B. R.N.), good very fine (4)

Harry Lewis Bayton was born at Kingston-upon-Thames on 21 September 1893 and was a van boy upon his joining the Royal Navy on 6 January 1910. Serving aboard Opal, he was lost on 12 January 1918 when she was wrecked off the Clett of Crura, on the east coast of South Ronaldsay. Just one member of her crew survived and Bayton is commemorated on the Porstmouth Naval Memorial.

A display at the Scapa Flow Visitor Centre covers the loss of Opal and includes the wedding ring of one of those sailors lost and the brass name plate of one of those lost, which was found to be lining the nest of a cormorant’s nest on nearby cliffs.


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Sold for
£240

Starting price
£110