A fine February 1936 King George V Funeral Gun Carriage Crewman’s Royal Victorian Medal in Silver and Second World War Far East Battle of the Java Sea 1942 casualty group awarded to Leading Seaman G.L. Ball, Royal Navy. From Shincliffe, County Durham, he was decorated with the Royal Victorian Medal in Silver for his services as a member of the gun crew during the state funeral procession of King George V in February 1936. Later he was aboard the destroyer Electra and lost his life when she was sunk with her White Ensign still flying whilst engaged against Japanese forces during the Battle of the Java Sea on 26 February 1942.
Group of 5: Royal Victorian Medal in Silver, GVR bust, unnamed as issued, housed in it’s Royal Mint fitted presentation case; 1939-1945 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star; War Medal.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine.
Together with the following quantity of original documentation and ephemera:
An In Gratitude Booklet commemorating the life of His late Majesty King George V, the inside opening page inscribed in ink: ‘A gift to Able Seaman G.L. Ball in remembrance of a Great king, and commemorating an unforgettable day in your life. From the Author.’ Printed and bound in photograph album format by H.W. Peall and Co of London.
Approximately 55 original photographs from the recipient’s service, mostly naval images, some annotated, including images of a voyage to the Mediterranean circa 1929-1930 and bull fighting in Spain.
10 x postcards circa 1920’s.
A small quantity of original envelopes, these bearing stamps and post marks circa 1913, one containing a headed note, these mostly addressed to the Dollar Shoe Company in Leicester. How these relate are unclear.
The Estate Account sheet for Ball, totalled up after his death on 16 February 1942.
George Leslie Ball was born in 1910, the son of George and Edith Ball of Shincliffe, County Durham. He joined the Royal Navy during the 1920’s, and was aboard the battleship H.M.S. Resolution circa 1920 to 1930, a completed a cruise to the Mediterranean, during which period he visited Spain and Greece. Ball is known to have seen service during his naval career in the gunnery branch, and also visited Japan, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, and Venice.
As an Able Seaman (No.C.JX.127110) he formed part of the gun carriage crew escorting the body of His late Majesty King George V, being awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in Silver for his services on 18 February 1936. Owing to the outbreak of the Second World War, he was aboard the destroyer H.M.S. Electra when she formed part of Force Z at Singapore at the time of the Japanese declaration of war.
On 26 February 1942, Electra arrived at Surabaya from Tanjung Priok, along with HMS Exeter, HMAS Perth, the Dutch light cruiser Java, and the destroyers Jupiter and Encounter. HMS Dauntless, HMS Danae, and HMAS Hobart remained at Tanjung Priok. On 27 February, the striking force left Surabaya, the three British destroyers in the lead, with Electra in the center, Jupiter to port, and Encounter to starboard; followed by the Dutch cruiser De Ruyter, HMS Exeter, USS Houston, HMAS Perth, and HNLMS Java; followed by two Dutch and four American destroyers.
That afternoon, they made contact with the enemy. Electra managed to evade the shells and torpedoes in the first round. At 1715, Exeter received a hit which destroyed a 4-inch (102mm) gun mount and then exploded in a boiler room, causing her to lose speed. At 1725, seeing that Exeter was in trouble, Electra headed toward the enemy ships, followed by the other two British destroyers, to cover Exeter's escape. After several near misses from gunfire from the Japanese light cruiser Jintsū, Electra fired back, scoring several hits on Jintsū and the destroyer Asagumo disabling her engines, she also managed to score hits on destroyers Minegumo and Tokitsukaze. During this slugging match, Electra sustained several hits, which knocked out A and X gun mounts, wrecked the electrical system forward, cut off all communications, destroyed a searchlight platform, damaged the after boiler room, and ruptured the main steam line. Electra came to a stop, fired off her torpedoes, and started to list to port. After a fire started under 'B' gun mount and 'Y' mount ran out of ammunition, abandon ship was ordered. One surviving whaleboat got away after being loaded with wounded, but it was destroyed by a shell shortly after. She sank shortly afterwards on the afternoon of 27 February 1942, bow first, with the White Ensign still flying.
That night, about 0235hrs. in the morning of 28 February, 54 survivors of the 173 men on board were picked up by the United States submarine S-38, and were taken to Surabaya. When the submarine surfaced in the middle of the survivors, they were not sure if it was friendly or enemy. One of the survivors recognised the submarine as being friendly because it had an ‘Admiralty’ type anchor; and at that time, only United States submarines still had this type of anchor. One of the survivors died on the submarine on the way, Leading Seaman Frederick Arthur Castle. After treatment in a Dutch hospital, 42 survivors were taken to Australia by the inter-island steamer General Verspijck, manned by the survivors, where they arrived on 10 March. One more survivor died at the hospital in Surabaya, and 10 others in critical condition were left at the hospital becoming Japanese POW's. 3 died in captivity, Stoker Sidney Thomas Eaglestone, Telegraphist Harry Lancelot Friend and Leading Seaman Charles Henry Palmer.
4 days after the sinking a Japanese destroyer picked up another 6 survivors, of an original 19 on, or trying to hang on to another raft. They became POW's, with 4 dying in captivity, Stoker Petty Officer Joseph Edward Davies, Able Seaman Thomas Joseph Hughes, Able Seaman James George Ernest Peacefull and Chief Petty Officer Engine Room Artificer Samuel Robert Roy Wood. Only 2 survived the war, Lieutenant Stewart Alexander Cruden and Able Seaman Everitt Albert "Eddie" Skerritt.
One of those who lost their lives when the ship was sunk was Leading Seaman Ball, who having no known grave is commemorated by name on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
On 29 March 1947, a stained glass window at St. George’s Chapel at the Royal Naval Barracks, Chatham, was dedicated to the crew of Electra.
