Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 461

(x) Eight: Chief Petty Officer L. J. Redman, Royal Navy, who survived the much-photographed loss of H.M.S. Audacious in the Irish Sea in October 1914 and afterwards saw much action in the Queen Elizabeth off Gallipoli

1914-15 Star (J.19804, L. J. Redman. A.B. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.19804 L. J. Redman. A.B. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (J.19804. L. J. Redman. P.O. H.M.S. Vendetta); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, heavy polishing and contact wear, nearly very fine (8)

Leonard John Redman was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire on 2 January 1897 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in August 1912, aged 15.

Loss of the Audacious

By the outbreak of war, he was serving as a Boy 1st Class in the battleship H.M.S. Audacious. In mid-October 1914, as part of the 2nd Battle Squadron, Audacious was ordered to Loch na Keal on the west coast of Scotland, Admiral Jellicoe having deemed Scapa Flow's defences inadequate against enemy submarines.

A week or so later, on the 27th, during a gunnery exercise off Tory Island, Ireland, Audacious struck a mine. The explosion occurred well under the ship, thereby failing to cause casualties, but serious flooding ensued, and she listed 15-degrees to port. The cruiser Liverpool and the squadron's destroyers stood by and were soon joined by the Titanic's sister ship Olympic.

A subsequent attempt to take Audacious in tow ended in failure and all but 250 of her complement were picked up by boat. Then at 1815 hours, as darkness loomed, her skeleton crew was likewise evacuated. Just over two hours later, Audacious capsized, floating upside down for about 15 minutes before finally succumbing to a massive explosion. Debris was hurled far and wide, one unfortunate Petty Officer aboard the Liverpool being killed outright by a piece of armoured plating.

Gallipoli and Beyond

Redman returned to sea in the battleship Queen Elizabeth in December 1914 and remained similarly employed until the war's end, a period encompassing much action in the Dardanelles and off Gallipoli. In one of numerous bombardments she carried out against Turkish forts and troops in the period March-June 1915, she was hit below the waterline by three shells from the Hairredin Barbarossa but her heavy armour averted serious damage.

Between the wars, Redman was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in January 1930 and advanced to Chief Petty Officer in October 1935, and he was pensioned ashore in January 1937.

Recalled soon after the renewal of hostilities, he was borne on the books of President III, an administrative unit for the Defensive Equipped Merchant Ships, his service record further noting that he was rated as a Gunlayer in November 1939. It seems likely therefore that he went on to serve in a D.E.M.S. role on the Atlantic run; sold with copied service record.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£140

Starting price
£100