Eight days after arriving on station, Devonshire and the rest of the Mediterranean Fleet sailed for manoeuvres in the Aegean Sea, off the island of Skiathos.
Controlling the exercises was the C-in-C in his flagship HMS Royal Oak and also taking part were Queen Elizabeth, London and Sussex, together with units of the Third Destroyer Flotilla. Arriving off Skiathos on 21 July the fleet lay at anchor, and while the senior officers planned the forthcoming manoeuvres the sailors were granted recreational leave for ‘picnic and bathing parties’.
When they got under way Devonshire and the destroyer’s practised torpedo firing, after which there was gunnery practice. At 0800 on Friday 26 July the fleet weighed anchor, and within minutes London, Sussex and Devonshire had formed a single line ahead in order to carry out a full calibre shoot. At 08.45 there was a flurry of manoeuvring as Sussex, which was rejoining the line, almost collided with Devonshire; the latter’s stem did in fact touch Sussex’s port quarter, but no damage was done and the exercise continued.On the 26th July 1929 on leaving the exercise area to form ' line ahead ' for a gunnery shoot, Devonshire and Sussex were involved in a slight collision, no serious damage was done, and the exercise continued.
At 10.00 exactly Devonshire fired her first broadside, but practically simultaneously a huge explosion shook the ship
A faulty breech mechanism in X turret had caused a shell and some cordite bags to ignite, the force of the explosion blew the roof off the gun turret and started fires in the gun house and pump room.
Fortunately, these were soon extinguished, but the explosion took a heavy toll of the Royal Marines who were manning the turret.
One officer and six men were killed instantly, one of them being blown overboard.
Devonshire made for the Greek port of Volos where 17 injured men were transferred to the hospital ship Maine. However, 11 of these subsequently died, and 16 of the victims were buried at Volos with full military honours.
Devonshire, with X turret awry, returned to Malta and from there proceeded to Devonport where on August 14th her tragic first commission ended, and she paid off for refit and repairs.
Albert Streams was Awarded the Albert Medal for his gallantry as a crew member on board HMS Devonshire on the 26th July 1929 after a massive explosion in one of the gun turrets on the ship.
Although injured himself in the blast he remained behind to help evacuate the wounded and dying.
Eventually killed in Sicily during WW2 Albert had enlisted on the 12th April 1921 with the RM Light Infantry, Plymouth Division.
Citation
H.M.S. Devonshire was carrying out full calibre firing on 26th July, 1929, when at the first salvo there was a heavy explosion which blew off the roof of one of the turrets.
Marine Streams was the only man in the gun house who was not either killed instantly or fatally injured.
He was seriously shaken by the explosion and instinctively climbed to the top of the side plating to escape but, on arriving at the top he looked back and saw the conditions inside the turret, and deliberately climbed back into it amidst the smoke and fumes notwithstanding the grave risk of further explosions.
He then helped to evacuate the one remaining man of the right gun's crew, and took charge and played a major part in evacuating the crew of the Fire Control cabinet. When all the wounded were out he collapsed. His bravery, initiative and devotion to duty were beyond praise.
Lieut. Cdr. Maxwell-Hyslop was in the fore control when the explosion occurred, and immediately proceeded to the turret and climbed inside.
He made a general examination of the turret, and descended the gun well through most dangerous conditions of fumes and smoke, necessitating the use of a life line, remaining in the turret until the emergency was over, directing arrangements for the safety of the magazine, and supervising the evacuation of the wounded.
He was fully aware of the danger to himself from the results of cordite fumes, and the grave risk of further explosions.
At the time this officer and man entered the turret the fire produced by the explosion was still burning and it was impossible to estimate the real state of affairs due to the heavy smoke.
They both were fully aware that there were other cordite charges in the hoist and handing room below which might ignite at any moment with almost certain fatal results to themselves, and they deliberately endangered their own lives to save the lives of others.
Marine Albert Streams, A.M. 41 RM Commando, died during operations at Sicily during Operation Husky whilst acting as the CO’s MOA (Marine Officer Attendant)
Son of Albert and Lillian Streams, of Reading, Berkshire; husband of Dorothy Kathleen Streams, of Woodley, Reading.
He spent most of his service at sea as a Wardroom Attendant and kept a fascinating personal diary and several scrapbooks and photograph albums depicting life on the lower deck between the wars.
Ships he served in were involved in Palestine and the Spanish Civil War, while his home service saw him at royal tournaments, On London duties and the Silver Jubilee in 1935, whilst the King personally presented him with his Albert Medal, which he won when the Marines Turret of HMS Devonshire blew up in 1929.
His story can be found in more detail here;
Albert Medals Awarded to Royal Marines With particular reference to Marine Albert Streams AM (Served 19921-1943) by Captain Derek Oakley MBE, RM
Royal Marines Killed
Captain John Arthur Bath, D.S.C. Killed Outright
Sergeant William Ernest Snell, Missing, presumed drowned
Corporal Edward Bacon, Killed outright
Corporal Joseph E. Barber, Died on board RFA Maine
Corporal James Levins, Killed Outright
Marine James W. Blackman, Died on board RFA Maine
Marine Joseph S. Brindle, Died on board RFA Maine
Marine Samuel Goldsmith, Died on board RFA Maine
Marine Frank Grindle, Died on board RFA Maine
Marine Edward C. Harris, Died on board RFA Maine
Marine William Ernest Hellyer, Died on board RFA Maine
Marine William George Hole, Died on board HMS Devonshire
Marine Augustus Alexander MacDonald, Died on board HMS Devonshire
Marine John Tossel Old, Died on board RFA Maine
Marine Lionel R. Taylor, Died on board RFA Maine
Marine Frank Williams, Died on board RFA Maine
References Further reading:
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