{"product_id":"royal-navy-kia-jutland-hms-defence-1916-long-service-good-conduct-medal-plymouth","title":"Royal Navy KIA Jutland HMS Defence 1916 Long Service Good Conduct Medal Plymouth","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eRoyal Navy Long Service \u0026amp; Good Conduct Medal – Ship’s Steward Walter George McLean, Royal Navy – K.I.A. Jutland 1916\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eRN LS\u0026amp;GC – \u003cb\u003e350336 W. G. Mc LEAN, SH. STEWD. H.M.S. VIVID:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWalter George McLean\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born on \u003cb\u003e29th June 1880\u003c\/b\u003e at \u003cb\u003e8 Wyndham Street West, Plymouth, Devon\u003c\/b\u003e, the son of \u003cb\u003eWalter McLean (1851–1918)\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eEllen Rosetta (née Giles) (1855–1941)\u003c\/b\u003e. He was baptised at \u003cb\u003eSt Peter’s, Plymouth\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003cb\u003e29th July 1880\u003c\/b\u003e, and appears as a child in Plymouth in the early census period. His mother is later recorded as his \u003cb\u003enext of kin\u003c\/b\u003e, living at \u003cb\u003eDuncannon House, Dartmouth\u003c\/b\u003e (also recorded at \u003cb\u003eNew Common Road, Dartmouth\u003c\/b\u003e).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMcLean entered the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Navy\u003c\/b\u003e as a \u003cb\u003eShip’s Steward’s Boy\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003cb\u003e2nd July 1895\u003c\/b\u003e, beginning a long seagoing career that took him across the fleet in peace and war. His service papers describe him as a small-built man, standing \u003cb\u003e4ft 10in\u003c\/b\u003e, with \u003cb\u003ebrown hair\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003egrey eyes\u003c\/b\u003e, and a \u003cb\u003efair complexion\u003c\/b\u003e (height again recorded in \u003cb\u003e1911\u003c\/b\u003e).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eDuring the period of overseas operations in \u003cb\u003eChina\u003c\/b\u003e, McLean served in \u003cb\u003eH.M.S. Centurion\u003c\/b\u003e during the \u003cb\u003eBoxer Rebellion\u003c\/b\u003e. While employed in North China he was \u003cb\u003especially promoted to Assistant Ship’s Steward\u003c\/b\u003e for his services, the promotion being dated \u003cb\u003e29th June 1901\u003c\/b\u003e – a notable acknowledgement for a rating of his branch, and an early highlight of a career built on reliability and competence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAs a career steward he continued to serve in a series of postings at sea and in home waters. Later records show him joining \u003cb\u003eH.M.S. Shearwater\u003c\/b\u003e at \u003cb\u003eEsquimalt, Vancouver Island\u003c\/b\u003e, a key Royal Navy base for the \u003cb\u003ePacific Station\u003c\/b\u003e, reflecting the genuinely global nature of his service. By \u003cb\u003eJanuary 1907\u003c\/b\u003e he was back in the United Kingdom with an appointment to \u003cb\u003eH.M.S. Edgar\u003c\/b\u003e at \u003cb\u003eChatham\u003c\/b\u003e (to \u003cb\u003e31st December 1908\u003c\/b\u003e), followed by service in \u003cb\u003eH.M.S. Hannibal\u003c\/b\u003e until \u003cb\u003e28th February 1910\u003c\/b\u003e, including time in the \u003cb\u003ecommissioned reserve at Portsmouth\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAfter nearly eighteen years’ continuous service, McLean was awarded the \u003cb\u003eRoyal Navy Long Service \u0026amp; Good Conduct Medal\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003cb\u003e4th July 1913\u003c\/b\u003e, confirming an exemplary record over the qualifying period. Only weeks later, with tensions in Europe rising, he joined \u003cb\u003eH.M.S. Defence\u003c\/b\u003e on \u003cb\u003e2nd September 1913\u003c\/b\u003e, remaining with her into the Great War. Contemporary crew-list and casualty material confirms him aboard as \u003cb\u003eShip’s Steward\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eOfficial Number 350336 (Devonport)\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eMcLean served from the outbreak of war in \u003cb\u003eH.M.S. Defence\u003c\/b\u003e, and was \u003cb\u003ekilled in action on 31st May 1916\u003c\/b\u003e during the \u003cb\u003eBattle of Jutland\u003c\/b\u003e. In the action, \u003cb\u003eDefence\u003c\/b\u003e moved to engage enemy forces and came under intense fire from German capital ships; she was struck by heavy salvoes which detonated her magazines, destroying the ship with the loss of her entire company. \u003cb\u003eMcLean’s body was not recovered\u003c\/b\u003e, and he is commemorated on the \u003cb\u003ePlymouth Naval Memorial\u003c\/b\u003e, ensuring his name remains permanently recorded among those of the Royal Navy who have no known grave.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVisit my website for better prices on most of my stock.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53868396085594,"sku":null,"price":142.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20260209_110958.png?v=1774262382","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/royal-navy-kia-jutland-hms-defence-1916-long-service-good-conduct-medal-plymouth","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}