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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 122

Four: Petty Officer H. W. Stenning, Royal Navy, one of H.M.S. Powerful's Bluejackets during the Defence of Ladysmith - for which he took a 'Ladysmith Watch' - and was 'mentioned' during the Great War

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith (165625. A.B. H. W. Stenning. H.M.S. Powerful.); British War Medal 1914-20 (165625 H. W. Stenning. P.O. R.N.); Coronation 1911; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (165625 H. W. Stenning. A.B. (Rigger) H.M.Y. Victoria & Albert), sold together with his presentation City of Portsmouth Pocket Watch, this engraved 'Siege of Ladysmith 118 Days 1899-1900 H.W. Stenning. A.B. H.M.S. Powerful', light contact wear, very fine overall (4)

By the time H.M.S. Powerful and her crew had returned to Portsmouth on 11 April 1900, their part in the Siege of Ladysmith was well known in England. The men were regarded as heroes and as they walked through the town the people of Portsmouth celebrated their return, cheering, singing and waving Union Jacks. At a banquet held at Portsmouth Town Hall in June 1900 to commemorate the Siege, the Mayor of Portsmouth presented a silver watch to each member of the crew, including Stenning. Some 220 [of 286] were presented at the Banquet, with the movements either by Omega or Samuel Smith & Son.

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 December 1918 (Destroyers January- June 1918).

Henry Walter Stenning was born at Broadwake, Sussex on 29 July 1876 and enlisted as Boy Class II on 26 February 1892, reaching his majority with Resolution on 9 July 1894. Advanced Able Seaman with Volage the next year joined Powerful on 2 June 1897.

Still with her when she sailed for China by way of South Africa Stenning was to be selected for the Naval Brigade which went ashore to reinforce the British troops defending Ladysmith. They arrived at the last possible moment with Boer shells and rifle rounds landing around them as they unloaded the guns. Their heavy 4.7-inch guns were the best weapons the British defenders had to counter the Boer heavy guns, the British gun Lady Anne contested Long Tom for most of the siege, raising morale greatly.

Over 40 of the men of Powerful became casualties during the siege, a high number as the Boers only made two serious attempts to take the city by force. Much of the fighting was either raids or exchanges of artillery in which the men of the Naval Brigade were heavily engaged. When the city was relieved, the Naval Brigade returned to Powerful which itself returned to Britain on 11 April 1900. Stenning left the ship on 9 June that same year, missing out on action in China as a result.

He joined the Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert in July 1901 and received his L.S. & G.C. with her in the unusual rank of Able Seaman (Rigger). The outbreak of the Great War saw him return to active service (1914-15 Star & Victory Medal 1914-19), being posted to the destroyer Hardy with whom he was to serve at the Battle of Jutland. There she acted as an escort for one of the cruiser squadrons and saw little of the action, nevertheless Stenning was to serve as one of the few men to see action at Ladysmith and Jutland.

Remaining with Hardy for the duration of the war he was 'mentioned' with her in the final months of the war. Stenning finally joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 24 July 1919 and was demobilised in August; sold together with copied research and his 'Ladysmith Watch'.

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Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480