Rare bayonet action HMS Broke WW1 Royal Navy medals German destroyer Archard

Description: The Great War campaign group of three awarded to Able Seaman W. H. Archard, Royal Navy, who was present in H.M.S. Broke during her famous encounter with enemy destroyers in the Dover Straits on the night of 20-21 April 1917'Many casualties had occurred among the guns' crews of the forecastle through two enemy shells, one of which had detonated projectiles in a ready rack. All the electric cables and voice-pipes from the bridge had been shot away, while the after compass, after wireless-room, and searchlight were demolished. The foremost funnel was pierced through and through by splinters until it resembled a huge nutmeg-grater. A shell passing in through the side above the waterline had penetrated a coal-bunker, to explode in the boiler-room beyond, killing or wounding every man in the compartment and severing the main steam-pipe, from which the steam escaped with a deafening roar. And, besides the damage from enemy shell, the British flotilla-leader had a badly bent and crumpled bow, and two huge gashes forward above the waterline. Dead and wounded lay everywhere … In the space of a few moments the Broke was converted into a smoking-shambles. In places, her decks were literally running in blood. She sustained 57 casualties, of whom 21 were killed outright, and no part of the ship was immune.'An eye-opening glimpse at the damage and casualties sustained by H.M.S. Broke in her famous encounter with six enemy destroyers in the Dover Straits in April 1917; Taffrail's Endless Story, refers.Ramming the G-42 at 27 knots, Broke almost turned her adversary over on her beam-ends and a brutal 'boarding party' hand-to-hand encounter ensued, so much so that Broke's decks were 'literally running in blood' She eventually departed the scene of battle a 'smoking shambles', the gallant deeds of her captain - 'Teddy' Evans of Scott-Antarctica fame - and her crew rightly winning the approbation of Their Lordships of the Admiralty and conquering the columns of the home press1914 – 15 Star, impressed named J.26359. W.H. ARCHARD. BOY 1. R.N.; British War and Victory Medals (1914 – 18), impressed named J.26539. W.H. ARCHARD. A.B. R.N.; original medal card box’s of issue addressed to W.H. Archard. Comes with copies of service records, medal roll and newspaper articles.William Henry Archard was born on 9/2/1898 at Chippenham, Wiltshire, England, an iron works labourer by trade, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a boy 2nd Class on 8/8/1913 (15 years old). He served on a variety of H.M. ships and shore bases including Impregnable (training ship), Powerful (Boys Training Ship at Devonport and tender to Impregnable), Royal Arthur (first class cruiser) May 1914 – 30/11/1914 which was serving as a guardship at Scapa Flow. Pembroke 1 (accounts base), Victory 1.A.M.C. Virginia (armed merchant cruiser) 10/12/1914 – 8/3/1916. December 1914 the British Admiralty requisitioned her and had her converted into an AMC. Virginian joined the 10th Cruiser Squadron, with which she was on the Northern Patrol from December 1914 until the end of June 1917. Victory 1 & Excellent (shore gunnery school) 7 – 15/8/1916.H.M.S. Broke (Faulknor-class destroyer leader) 28/8/1916 – 20/1/1918.On 20–21 April 1917, Broke – together with another large destroyer leader, HMS Swift – took part in the Battle of Dover Strait against a flotilla of six German torpedo boats from Zeebrugge who were attacking the Dover Barrage. In a confused action, Broke rammed SMS G42, and the two ships became locked together. For a while, there was hand-to-hand fighting between the crews, as the German sailors boarded the British ship, before Broke got free and G42 sank. Badly damaged, Broke had to be towed into Dover, her casualties were 21 killed and 36 wounded. Her commander, Edward Evans, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was extolled in the British press as "Evans of the Broke".It is highly probable that he was part of the gun crews as he had just completed a course at the gunnery school. The majority of casualties occured amongst the upper deck and gun crews.H.M.S. Bruce (Admiralty type flotilla leader) 26/4/1918 – 28/10/1919.On 10/8/1918, Bruce took part in a sweep by the Harwich Force against German minesweeping forces in the southern part of the North Sea. The force, consisting of four light cruisers and fourteen destroyers and leaders, would tow six Coastal Motor Boats (CMBs) to the edge of the mined areas in the inner German Bight. From there, the CMBs would proceed over the minefields and search for German minesweepers, which they were to attack with torpedoes. Air cover was to be provided by flying boats carried on lighters towed behind three of the destroyers, while two more destroyers towed lighters carrying Sopwith Camel fighter aircraft, for use against German Zeppelin airships. When the force reached the minefields, the lack of wind meant that the flying boats could not take off, so the CMBs continued unescorted, and were subject to sustained attacks by German aircraft, which resulted in three of the CMBs being sunk and the other three being interned in the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the Harwich Force, waiting for the CMBs to return, encountered the German airship L53, and a Camel took off from a lighter towed behind the destroyer Redoubt and shot down L53.He discharged to shore 20/1/1920 and in 1939 was working for the railway as a crossing keeper (24 hour post). He died in 1981 at Chippenham, Wiltshire. Please view my other collector's items for sale. Overseas buyers, if you want to buy these and pay direct, this will mean you won't be paying import duty. Get in touch. I can combine postage, please just message me before payment and I can invoice you direct. If you are still bidding on items, let me know and we can discuss a later date for payment. 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Price: 1075 AUD

Location: Stoneville, WA

End Time: 2025-01-15T12:17:08.000Z

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