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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 487

Five: Able Seaman W. C. Montier, Royal Navy, a Jutland veteran killed in action in the sinking of Sea King off Grimsby on 9 October 1940

British War and Victory Medals (J.46682 W.C. Montier. Ord. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45, edge bruising and heavy contact wear to the first, overall very fine (5)

William Clifford Montier was born at Tooting, London on 18 March 1900, son of Albert and Mary Montier of Worcester Park, Surrey. Enlisting with the Royal Navy as a Boy Class II on 13 October 1915 he completed his training with Powerful and was posted to the Battlecruiser Royal Oak on 1 May 1916, just prior to the Battle of Jutland.

This revenge class warship was part of the Battlecruiser Squadron during the action. She landed hits on Wiesbaden, Derfflinger and Seydlitz, firing a total of 38 hits from the main guns throughout. During this time Montier was still ranked Boy Class I but was promoted Ordinary Seaman on 18 March 1917. He was still aboard this warship in November 1918 when the tender Campania broke her moorings and drifted into Royal Oak. Despite this she suffered little damage although Campania was holed and sank.

Seeing postwar service with a variety of ships including Fitzroy, Wryneck and Dragon, Montier was posted ashore to H.M.S. Pembroke on 8 May 1928. He was to remain there for several years, briefly seeing service with Repulse in 1929 before returning ashore and finally being pensioned on 17 March 1930.

Joining the Royal Fleet Reserve the next day, he was still serving on the outbreak of the Second World War. Montier was mobilised on 15 June 1939 and posted to Campbell before being moved on to H.M.S. Volunteer on 1 August 1939. This warship was stationed on the Western Approaches at this time conducting anti-submarine patrols and escorting convoys into the Atlantic.

Montier did not serve there for long, being posted ashore on 1 December 1939. He spent some time here before being ordered to join the commissioned trawler Withernsea on 4 June 1940. At some stage going on to another trawler H.M.T. Sea King, this vessel was engaged in anti-submarine patrols out of Grimsby at the time.

Sea King was underway just off Grimsby on 9 October 1940 when she struck a mine which sank her. The entire ships compliment of 14 men were killed in the tragedy. Montier is remembered upon the Chatham Naval Memorial; sold together with copied service papers and a Commonwealth War Graves Certificate.

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Sold for
£130

Starting price
£100