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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 437

Six: Yeoman of Signals S. T. James, Royal Navy, who served in both wars, seeing action at Heligoland Bight in 1914 and Jutland in 1916

1914-15 Star (J.7077. G. T. James, Sig., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.7077 G. T. James. L.Sig. R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (J.7077 G. T. James. Y. S. H.M.S. Revenge.), contact marks and light polishing to the first three and the last, the fourth and fifth good very fine (6)

George Thomas James was born at Le Havre on 12 January 1894 and enlisted with the Royal Navy as a Signal Boy 2nd Class aboard Impregnable on the 30 December 1909. Promoted to Ordinary Signalman on 12 January 1912 he was further advanced Signalman on 9 August 1912.

The First Battle of Heligoland Bight

Served aboard Badger from 21 June 1914 and took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914. Badger became the first Allied ship to successfully attack a German U-boat when she rammed the U-19 off the Dutch coast. U-19 was severely damaged but managed to return to port was repaired and survived the war. Served on Beaver 1 April 1915-6 May 1916 and then Pelican from 7 May 1916.

The Battle of Jutland 1916

Pelican participated in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 and took part in the destroyer attack on the German battlecruisers after the destruction of the Indefatigable and Queen Mary of the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron. Towards the end of the battle, the destroyer joined the attack, led by the destroyer Lydiard, on the German battlecruisers as they retreated. On the 19 August 1916 the cruiser Falmouth was struck by a torpedo. Pelican was one of three destroyer attacked, dropping a depth charge which shook the German boat and the submarine was driven away.

James joined Champion on 1 October 1916-6 June 1917 and Gabriel on 7 June 1917 to 31 August 1919. He was advanced to Yeoman of Signals on 25 May 1925 and to Chief Yeoman of Signals aboard Seapis 28 December 1931, and discharged to pension from Victory I on 14 January 1934. Re-joining the Royal Navy at Victory I on 22 March 1940 after the outbreak of the Second World War, he was posted to Berwick Head (Orkney) on 9 April 1940. James was finally released from Mercury on 16 August 1945; sold together with the following:

i)
W/T Cabinet Log from H.M.S. Wishart.

ii)
17 assorted photographs.

iii)
Invitation for Mrs James for the Annual Ball on H.M.S. Nelson on 31 July 1933.

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Sold for
£190

Starting price
£100