Pair:Chief Cooper W. Lavis, Royal Navy, who served aboardShannonat the Battle of Jutland
British War Medal 1914-20 (340793 W. Lavis. Ch. Cpr. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (340793 William Lavis, Cooper, H.M.S. Antrim.), Extremely fine.
William Lavis was born at Tavistock, Devon on 26 June 1874, the son of Thomas and Mary Lavis. Enlisting as 2nd Cooper on 20 August 1895 he served in that rank until being advanced Cooper in 1899. Entering the Great War with that rank aboard Shannon Lavis was still with her at the Battle of Jutland. Shannon was on the unengaged side of the Grand Fleet during the Battle but did search for her sister ship Defence during the night phase of the engagement. Lavis was advanced Chief Cooper not long afterwards in October 1916. He continued to serve until the end of the war, being demobilised on 22 February 1919; sold together with copied census data and service papers.
