£225.001914-15 Star (Ply. 9296, Sgt. J. E. Stead. R.M.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Ply.9296 Cr. Sgt. J. E. Stead. R.M.L.I.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (Ply.9296 J. E. Stead, Sergeant, R.M.L.I.), mounted as worn, good very fine (4)
John Edmund Stead was born on 21 June 1880 at Rock Ferry, Cheshire, the son of Private Stead, 4th Light Dragoons. Young Stead was a warehouseman by trade upon his joining the Royal Marines on 20 July 1898. Having earned his L.S. & G.C., during the Great War he served variously aboard Warrior and Glorious.
He was present aboard Warrior during her famous part in the Battle of Jutland. During the fighting Warrior, under Captain Vincent Molteno, found herself facing off against the German Battlecruiser Derfflinger, which hit her over fifteen times. The ship suffered heavy damage but her engine room crew managed to keep the ship under power for long enough to disengage - however, in the end only three of these men survived the fighting.
Withdrawing westwards she was taken under tow by Captain Robinson's Engadine. Unfortunately Warrior was taking on water too quickly and soon the decision was taken to transfer her crew to Engadine and scuttle her. Notably during the transfer, Lieutenant Rutland again sprang to action and was awarded the Albert Medal in Gold for attempting to save the life of a wounded man who had fallen between the two ships. He was also awarded the D.S.C. for his actions during the battle with a Bar added in 1917 and the nickname 'Rutland of Jutland'.
With their work done, Signaller H. Y. Ganderton of the Engadine, brings the story to a close:
'Grappling irons and ropes were cast off at 08.25 and gathering speed we left the doomed ship - a truly forlorn spectacle. Derelict, battered and battle scarred, forsaken at last, heaving in a queer dying convulsive sort of manner - and yet, with the white ensign proudly flying at the masthead, her battle ensign. Warrior's crew gave their old ship a cheer, and there were tears in her captain's eyes. That was the last glimpse of the old Warrior we had before she was lost sight of in the mist, and vanished beneath the waves of the cold grey North Sea.'
Eventually promoted Warrant Officer Class II, Stead was pensioned in July 1919.
