WW1 British War & Victory Medal Pair – HMS Derwent Casualty

An original First World War medal pair correctly named to:

300889 W.T. OSBORNE. STO.1. R.N.

Both medals retain their original ribbons and are officially impressed around the rim.

This is a particularly poignant casualty pair awarded to a Stoker 1st Class who lost his life when HMS Derwent struck a German mine and sank in the English Channel on 2 May 1917.


Recipient

William Thomas Osborne

William Thomas Osborne served aboard the River-class destroyer HMS Derwent during the First World War. He was among the crew lost when the ship struck a mine laid by the German minelaying submarine UC-26 while escorting a convoy off Le Havre on 2 May 1917. He was 33 years old at the time of his death. (A Street Near You)


Medal Details

British War Medal 1914–1918

Victory Medal

Both medals are complete with their original ribbons.


HMS Derwent

HMS Derwent was a River-class destroyer launched in 1903. During the First World War she undertook convoy escort duties, anti-submarine patrols and Channel defence.

On 2 May 1917, while escorting merchant vessels near Le Havre, she struck a contact mine laid by the German submarine UC-26. The explosion caused the destroyer to sink rapidly, with the loss of over fifty officers and men, including Stoker 1st Class William Thomas Osborne. The sinking occurred during Germany's unrestricted submarine campaign, when destroyers such as HMS Derwent played a vital role protecting Britain's maritime supply routes. 


Condition


Where shown, military service records are included for reference only as screenshots and are included with this sale. Full records are available through UK Forces War Records at uk.forceswarrecords.com and are not included with this sale.

Flash photography may make colours appear slightly different from the actual item.

All items are carefully packed and sent by Royal Mail.

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