CAMPAIGN GROUPS AND PAIRS 891
Three: Telegraphist A. J. Kilhams, Royal Navy, killed in action at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, whilst serving on H.M.S. Castor
1914-15 STAR (J.30359 O. Tel., R.N.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (J.30359 Tel., R.N.) nearly extremely fine (3) £200-250
Telegraphist Alfred John Kilhams, R.N., was killed in action at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, whilst serving on the light cruiser Castor. Aged 18 years at the time of his death, he was the son of John and Harriett Kilhams of Broadham, Singleton, Chichester.
The light cruiser Castor, of Commodore J. R. P. Hawksley, Commanding the Destroyer Flotillas of the Grand Fleet, came into action during the confused fighting during the evening of 31 May 1916. An extract from the ‘Narrative from H.M.S. Castor (Night Action) reads:
‘Soon after dark we saw three ships loom up to starboard, and as we challenged they switched on searchlights and opened fire. They fired only at us, being apparently unable to see our destroyers, which were painted black. We were hit direct four times; one shell hit the forecastle just under the bridge and, bursting inside, made a hole about 5 feet in diameter, and the splinters from it wounded a large number of men in the fore ammunition lobby; one shell went right through the fore mess deck and burst outside the disengaged side of the ship; one hit the motor barge, a brand new boat which had only done one trip with Captain (D.), bursting in her and setting her on fire; another shell hit the disengaged side of the fore-bridge and wiped out everybody in the way of signalmen, messengers, etc., who had gathered there, with the exception of one man. This man had a miraculous escape, the 4-inch shell bursting practically between his legs, but all the force of the explosion must have gone on in the direction in which the shell was travelling, for it blew a large hole in the deck of the bridge, and through which this man fell. He landed on another man who had been killed by that same shell, but he himself was practically unhurt. Besides these direct hits, the ship was covered with splinter dents from shells which burst on hitting the water short, and several men at the midship guns were laid out by them. We fired a torpedo at the leading Hun, and the two after 6- inch guns, which were not being directly fired at, were making good practice at the enemy. But the Germans soon altered course away, thereby avoiding the torpedo we had fired, and we did the same, missing collision with one of the second half-flotilla boats by inches only ... Two or three times during the night we saw heavy firing some 2 or 3 miles ahead, but we were not able to ascertain who it was. Suddenly a German destroyer appeared quite close, steaming slowly. We tried to ram and got within a few yards of her, but she was too quick and avoided us. However, we fired several shots into her at point-blank range, but it was impossible to tell if she sank. That was the last we saw of the enemy, and we then set about trying to regain touch with our own battle fleet, as it was still possible that the action might be renewed at daybreak, but it was 9 o’clock in the morning before we found them.’
The Narrative of the Battle of Jutland states that Castor suffer one officer wounded and 13 ratings killed and 22 wounded in the action.
With damaged card medal box; named medal forwarding slip and damaged registered envelope to Mrs H. Kilhams at the above address redirected to ‘46 South Halt, Forest Side, Nr. Elmsworth, Hants.’ With copied research.
892
Three: Leading Seaman L. E. T. Grundy, Royal Navy, who died of his injuries when H.M.S. Glatton was destroyed by an internal explosion at Dover on 16 September 1918
1914-15 STAR (J.27569 L. E. W. Grundy, Boy 1., R.N.); BRITISHWAR ANDVICTORYMEDALS (J.27569 L. E. T. Grundy, A.B. R.N.) note different initials, extremely fine (3)
£160-200
Leonard Ewart Turner Grundy was born in Willesden, London on 3 June 1898. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on Ganges in September 1913 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in May 1914. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in June 1916 when on the cruiser Minerva and to Able Seaman in March 1917 when on the same vessel. Posted to the monitor Glatton in August 1918, he died of his injuries on 17 September 1918, aged 20 years, when the ship was destroyed by an internal explosion when at anchor in Dover Harbour the day before. Grundy was buried in the Bournemouth East Cemetery, Hampshire. He was the son of Reeves Turner Grundy and Gertrude Lucy Emma Grundy of ‘St. Leonards’, 32 Court Road, Bournemouth.
The monitor Glatton was moored in Dover Harbour, when at about 6 o’clock in the afternoon on 16 September 1918 one of her magazines exploded, shattering the ship and shaking the town and surrounding area. Ships and boats moved quickly towards the fiercely burning wreck in order to rescue the living. Survivors were brought ashore, many suffering horrific burns and fractured limbs. With the ship burning fiercely there was a great danger that one or more of its other magazines would also explode. In order to save the town and other vessels nearby, some of which were loaded with ammunition and combustibles, the decision was taken to torpedo the ship and sink it, despite the men that might still be alive on board. This was put into effect and after several hits the Glatton heeled over and at 8 o’clock sank.
It was fortunate that many members of the ship’s compliment were ashore at the time of the explosion. However, the loss of life was very heavy, with 60 men being killed outright, with 124 injured of whom 19 later died of their injuries. Four Albert Medals were awarded to Royal Naval personnel for their gallantry in rescuing a number of badly injured men from the ship. With copied service paper and other research.
893
Six: Able Seaman H. R. Crompton, Royal Navy, who served throughout the war on the battlecruiser H.M.S. New Zealand
1914-15 STAR (J.4696 A.B., R.N.); BRITISHWAR AND VICTORYMEDALS (J.4696 A.B., R.N.); ROYALNAVY L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J.4696 A.B., H.M.S. Vivid); DEFENCE ANDWARMEDALS, these unnamed; together with ‘H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND’ VISIT MEDAL 1913 (Harrold R. Crompton. A.B.), silver, in case of issue; NAVAL VICTORIES MEDAL, by Spink, commemorating the battles of Heligoland Bight, Dogger Bank and Jutland, silver, in slightly damaged card box of issue, first four very fine; others extremely fine (8)
£220-260
Harrold Reeves Crompton was born in Harborne, Staffordshire on 15 July 1891. A Messenger by occupation, he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 21 May 1909, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in September the same year. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman when on Magnificent in November 1909 and to Able Seaman when on Collingwood in January 1912. He served on the battlecruiser New Zealand from November 1912 until February 1919. As such he was aboard the ship when she went on tour to the Dominions in 1913, including a visit to her namesake during 12 April-25 June 1913. Whilst there the ship was estimated to have been visited by almost half the population of New Zealand - most pertinent of whom was a Maori chieftain who presented the captain with a Maori piupiu ( a warrior’s skirt) and a greenstone tiki (pendant) which were intended to ward off evil, with the injunction that they were always to be worn by the captain when the ship was in action. Their efficacy was to be proved, as serving on the vessel throughout the war, Crompton saw action aboard the ship at the battles of Dogger Bank, 24 January 1915 and Jutland, 31 May/1 June 1916.
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