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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 377

The campaign group of three awarded to Acting Lieutenant-Commander K. E. Gain Royal Navy, who served on H.M.S. Mons
at the Battle of Jutland; he later served with the 'Wavy Navy' during the Second World War

1914-15 Star (Mid. K. E. Gain, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (S.Lt K. E. Gain. R.N.), good very fine (3)

Kenneth Elphinstone Gain was born at Brentford on 11 May 1897. Educated at Shrewsbury House, Ditton Hill in Surbiton, Surrey and the training ship H.M.S. Conway at Liverpool, he was appointed Probationary Midshipman. In November 1914 he joined Excellent and within days joined the Armed Merchant Cruiser Virginian. He was next appointed to Mons.

On 30 May, Mons sailed with the Grand Fleet to participate in the Battle of Jutland. Mons served as one of four members of the Eleventh Destroyer Flotilla attached to the First and Fourth Battle Squadrons. As the German fleet approached during the night on 31 May, the destroyers were spotted by the light cruisers of the High Seas Fleet. Mons attacked the German warships with gunfire but recorded no hits.

Requesting a transfer to the Royal Naval Air Service which was rejected, Gain transferred to the Royal Navy in July 1916 where he was appointed to Erin in August 1916, later Orion in September 1917. Confirmed in the rank of Sub-Lieutenant on 15 November 1917, he was appointed to Restless on 12 April 1918, resigning his commission on 5 February 1919.

In 1936 Gain was on the cabin cruiser Meander on the Thames late one evening when retired Lieutenant-Commander Maurice Maude fell over board and drowned. Gain subsequently gave evidence on his friend's death at the inquest.

Commissioned Lieutenant and Acting Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 3 June 1940 he was appointed to Caroline, the Shore Base at Belfast in September 1940. Appointed to Lanka in 1942 for miscellaneous service, and from 1943 for duty with the ACB escort force. He was demobilised at the end of hostilities and died in St. Austell, Cornwall in 1961; sold together with copied service papers.


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Sold for
£120

Starting price
£60