KILLED IN ACTION WW1 ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION 1914 MEDAL TRIO HOWE BN ANTWERP 5/184 FREDERICK WATSON

Offered is a 1914 Royal Naval Division set of medals to Frederick Ernest Watson, who served with the Howe Battalion at Antwerp, Gallipoli and was Killed in action 1918 whilst aboard HMS Sarnia, which was torpedoed by the German Submarine U-65 in September 1918, less than a month before the end of the First World War.

1914 Star impressed named SX5/184 F.WATSON, A.B.R.N.V.R. HOWE. BTTN.R.N.D.; War and Victory Medal impressed named S.5-184 F.E.WATSON. A.B. R.N.V.R. The medals are unmounted. Comes with copies Naval Service papers, medal roll, copy newspaper article with photographs of Fred and his brother & much research.

Frederick was born 8/3/1894 and resided at  4 Arnside Rd, St Leonards on Sea. Civilian occupation “Poultry Farmers Assistant”. Enlisted 12/5/1911. Recorded as being unable to swim. This could have bearing on his death when the Sarnia was torpedoed.

Served 29/6/1912 - 27/7/12 HMS ZEALANDIA. 13/9/1913 – 13/10/13 HMS HINDUSTAN. Victory I. 22/8/1914 entered into the Howe Battalion. 28/10/1914 Discharged to RN Depot Portsmouth.29/10/1914 – 30/11/1914 Victory I. RNVR. 1/12/1914 – 12/9/1918. HMS. SARNIA.

HMS SARNIA was sent to the Mediterranean to support the Gallipoli Campaign.  Carried out the arduous duties of a ferry steamer, plying between Mudros and the peninsula, carrying troops and military stores. This entailed constant moving and going alongside other ships. HMS SARNIA rammed and sunk HMS HYTHE. 155 killed.

Post Gallipoli supported operations in the Meditteranean, including Salonika.

12 September 1918 Torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U65 in position 31.58N 30.55E while on passage from Alexandria to Port Said with the loss of 53 lives.