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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 443

Seven: Able Seaman A. Matthews, Royal Navy, who served on H.M.S. Ajax at the Battle of Jutland

1914-15 Star (214931, A. Matthews, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (214931 A. Matthews. A.B. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (214931 A. Matthews A.B. H.M.S. Columbine.), contact marks, edge bruising, otherwise very fine (7)

Arthur Matthews was born on 31 January 1886, at Millbrook, Cornwall, and commenced naval service as a Boy 2nd Class with H.M.S. Impregnable on 28 June 1901. He was advanced to Able Seaman aboard H.M.S. Formidable on 27 April 1905. Matthews served on Ajax from 16 October 1913 until the War's end.

On 31 May, Ajax, under the command of Captain George Baird, was the second ship from the head of the battle line after deployment. She fired one salvo of six common pointed, capped shells at the battlecruisers of the I Scouting Group shortly after 19:00, but had to cease fire immediately afterwards when her view was obstructed by the ships of the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron. That was the only time that the ship fired her weapons during the battle.

Matthews was shore pensioned in December 1922, having been awarded his L.S. & G.C. in October 1922. Recalled for service in August 1939, he served during the Second World War in H.M.S. Albatross, H.M.S. Drake I, H.M.S. Defiance (Centurion), and H.M.S. Britannia II. He was shore released from H.M.S. Dartmouth in August 1945; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£130

Starting price
£70