Royal Navy Family group
British War Medal and Victory Medal (LS, RN), 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, War Medal (these 3 unnamed), Royal Fleet Reserve LSGC Medal, GVI ( P.O. R.F.R.) Ernest Westnutt , J.13937 Petty Officer, RN. GVF, swing-mounted.
1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, War Medal unnamed as issued to Ernest Westnutt P/SSX 21440 Able Seaman, RN (son of the above) EF, swing-mounted.
Ernest Westnutt, J.13937 Petty Officer, RN was born in Northamptonshire in 1894 and was a shoe-maker by trade. In 1911 he enlisted in the RN as a Boy 2nd class. In February 1916, as an Able Seaman, he was drafted to the battleship Revenge at the beginning of her maiden commission and, only three months later, she took part in the Battle of Jutland. Her 15-inch guns inflicted devastating damage on the battlecruiser Derfflinger; two of her main turrets were completely burned out. At the end of the war he was drafted to the battlecruisers New Zealand (carried Lord Jellicoe on a visit to all the main dominions to prepare a plan for imperial defence) and the Hood on her maiden commission. He retired in 1922 and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve.
His son Ernest was born in 1919 and presumably joined the RN in or about 1935. On the outbreak of the Second World War he was serving in the battleship Royal Oak. On the night of 13-14 October 1939 she was at anchor in Scapa Flow when she was torpedoed by a U-boat. She quickly sank in the ice-cold waters, taking with her 810 members of her crew.
Ernest Westnutt was one of the casualties.
In May 1941 Westnutt (senior) re-enlisted in the RN and served at sea in the new battleship Duke of York , mostly on Russian convoys. He was demobilized in 1945.
Sold with research.
