Great War loss of H.M.S. Paragon casualty trio awarded to Ordinary Seaman L. Griffiths, Royal Navy who was killed in the sinking of the Torpedo Boat Destroyer H.M.S. Paragon in the Dover Strait on 17th March 1917. Having no known grave he is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Group of 3: 1914-1915 Star; (J. 40894 L. GRIFFITHS. ORD. R.N.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (J.40894 L. GRIFFITHS. ORD. R.N.)
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Leonard Griffiths was born in Normanton, Yorkshire and giving his occupation as a factory lad, he joined the Royal Navy for the duration of hostilities on 10th June 1915 serving as an Ordinary Seaman. Griffiths’ first seaborne posting was to H.M.S. Birkenhead where he served from 26th August 1915 until 22nd January 1916.
After a period ashore he would be posted to the torpedo boat destroyer H.M.S. Paragon on 14th June 1916. Paragon was part of the Dover Patrol, then subject to repeated raids by German destroyers.
On 17 March 1917, fighting alongside HMS Llewellyn in an action in the Dover Strait with eight German torpedo boats, Paragon was sunk by a torpedo. Only 9 of Paragon’s 85 crew would survive the sinking.
Having no known grave Griffiths is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.