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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 125

Four: Able Seaman S. B. Carvell, Royal Navy, who was tragically killed in the loss of H.M.S. Vehement in the North Sea on 2 August 1918

1914-15 Star (J.29254, S. B. Carvell, Ord., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.29254 S. B. Carvell. A.B. R.N.) in their named O.H.M.S. boxes of issue; Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Sydney Bertrand Carvell), in its card envelope with condolence slip, good very fine (4)

Sydney Bertrand Carvell was born at Northampton on 13 October 1897, the son of Charles and Ellen Carvell of 19 Shelley Street, Kingsley Park, Northampton. Joining the Royal Navy as a Boy Class II on 20 January 1914 he was posted afloat for the first time with H.M.S. Endymion on 14 July 1914. Reposted for service on the Armed Merchant Cruisers Caribbean and Victorian he reached his majority aboard the latter on 12 September 1915.

Carvell was further advanced Able Seaman on 11 March 1916 before being posted to H.M.S. Vehement on 15 October 1917. This new V-class destroyer was part of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla operating in the North Sea, later transferring to 20th Destroyer Flotilla. She was part of a patrol on 1 August 1918 around Heligoland Bight when she struck a mine: the resulting explosion detonated her forward ammunition storage, blowing off the forward section of the ship. The blast killed one officer and 47 ratings, including Carvell. Remarkably this did not sink Vehement and she instead remained afloat to be taken under tow by Abdiel. This destroyer did not make it far however before striking a mine herself and Vehements's crew were forced to scuttle her and abandon ship. Carvell is remembered upon the Plymouth Naval Memorial; sold together with copied research comprising Commonwealth War Graves certificate, service papers and an original photograph along with copied research relating to H.M.S. Vehement.

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Sold for
£200

Starting price
£100