killed HMS Vanguard 1917 WW1 Victory Medal to Boy 1st Class Walter John Spiller

WW1 Victory Medal to Boy 1st Class Walter John Spiller, who was aboard H.M.S. Vanguard when it blew up in harbour 1917 Victory Medal impressed named J.43626 W.J. SPILLER. BOY 1 R.N. Comes with a copy service record and C.W.G.C. paperwork. Walter John Spiller was born on 13/1/1900 at Bridgewater, Somerset. A carter by trade, he enlisted into the Royal Navy on 1/9/1915. After completing training at H.M.S. Impregnable (shore based), Ganges and Pembroke, he was posted to H.M.S. Vanguard 28/6/1916. On the 9th July 1917 the ship was at anchor in Scapa Flow when it exploded. The conclusion of the board was that a fire started in a four-inch magazine, perhaps when a raised temperature caused spontaneous ignition of cordite, spreading to one or the other main magazines, which then exploded. 843 men were lost with 2 survivors. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.