WWI JUTLAND RUSSIAN ORDER OF ST ANNE MEDAL OF DISTINCTION FOR FOREIGNERS GROUP TO CH. GNR. T. SANDOVER, H.M.S. WARSPITE

Medal of the Order of St. Anne Gazetted 1 Oct 1917:

"Conferred by the Russian Government on officers of the Grand Fleet for distinguished services rendered in the Battle of Jutland".

Thomas Sandover was born in Ermington, Devon on 25 Oct 1873, the son of Edith and Andrew Sandover and husband of Kate Sandover. Joining the Royal Navy on 28 Dec 1898 as Acting Gunner, Sandover was posted to the Pacific Station on 11 Nov 1902 and promoted to the rank of Chief Gunner on 28 Dec 1913 and joining the crew of H.M.S. Warspite on 22 Sep 1914.

His Royal Navy Officer's papers record that he was on this ship throughout WWI and was 'awarded the Medal of the Order of St. Anne for distinguished services in the Battle of Jutland'.

Sandover was promoted to Lieutenant on 11 Apr 1922 and Lieutenant Commander on 11 Apr 1930, appointed for 'Special Duties' during WWII before reverting to the retired list on 22 July 1943.

The following extract is from the Western Morning News 27 Dec 1945:

"C.-In-C.s Visits - Visiting the Royal Naval Hospital, the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth Command, Admiral Sir H.D. Pridham-Wippell, made a tour of all the wards and chatted with the patients. One of these proved to be an old shipmate, Lieutenant-Commander T. Sandover, R.N. (retired), who served with Admiral Sir Henry in H.M.S. Warspite."

At the Battle of Jutland, H.M.S. Warspite scored a direct hit on the German Battle Cruiser Von der Tan, before a stray shell damaged her own steering. In the event of the battle Warspite was holed a hundred and fifty times and had fourteen of her crew killed, with another sixteen wounded. Although seriously damaged she was still afloat and was ordered back to Rosyth. On her way she was attacked by a German U-boat, but managed to evade three torpedoes. Shortly after this escape, she was attacked again by another U-boat, which she tried to ram.

Warspite was part of the force that escorted the surrendered High Seas Fleet into internment at Scapa Flow in 1918.