Three: Stoker Petty Officer W. C. T. Sheepwash, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Inflexible...

Three: Stoker Petty Officer W. C. T. Sheepwash, Royal Navy, who served in H.M.S. Inflexible at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916, and in H.M.S. Phoebe during the Zeebrugge Raid, 23 April 1918 1914-15 Star (165419 W. C. T. Sheepwash. S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (165419 W. C. T. Sheepwash. S.P.O. R.N.) mounted as worn, nearly very fine (3) £120-£160 --- Walter Charles Thomas Sheepwash was born in Chatham, Kent, on 21 August 1872 and joined the Royal Navy on 11 January 1892. Advanced Stoker Petty Officer on 1 July 1906, he served served during the Great War in H.M.S. Inflexible from the outbreak of War to 30 September 1917, and was present during the Battle of the Falkland Islands, the Dardanelles campaign, ands at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. After a brief period ashore he served next in H.M.S. Phoebe from 11 November 1917 until the cessation of hostilities, and was present during the Zeebrugge Raid on 23 April 1918: ‘H.M.S. Phoebe was commanded by Lieutenant-Commander H. E. Gore-Langton. When he saw H.M.S. North Star struck and brought to a standstill he went to her assistance and made a smoke screen to shield her from view. Then H.M.S. Phoebe moved ahead of the North Star and passed a wire across to tow her out of action. The ships drifted some distance to the north east until the North Star lay almost at right angles to the Phoebe and by that time the smoke-screen had dispersed. The two ships were then again lit up by the searchlights and were heavily shelled at close range. The Phoebe again tried to drag the North Star to safety but by then the latter’s engine and boiler rooms were flooded and the strain caused the wire to snap. Gore-Langton then turned the Phoebe alongside the wreck of the North Star with the intention of drawing her further out before attempting to tow her from the front but several shells struck the North Star blowing her capstan overboard and killing and wounding many men. Realising that she was unable to carry out her intention, the Phoebe cast off, made another smoke-screen between the North Star and the shore and then sent a boat to rescue some of the survivors. The North Star also lowered her boats and ferried some men across to the Phoebe. Gore-Langton once again tried to tow the North Star clear under the cover of a smoke screen but again the North Star was hit and seeing that she was sinking he gave orders that she should be abandoned. Men scrambled across from the sinking ship to the Phoebe but it is said that one was left behind. When this was realised the Phoebe re-approached the North Star to rescue him but as she came alongside, the man was killed by a bursting shell. H.M.S. Phoebe had stayed by the North Star for nearly an hour'. Sheepwash was shore demobilised on 8 April 1919. He was not awarded a Long Service Medal. Sold with copied service papers and other research.