Russia, Medal for Zeal, Nicholas II, small, silver (166768 W. H. Lamerton, Blksh., H.M.S. Jupiter), service number corrected, very fine £80-100

William Henry Lamerton was born in Devonport on 6 January 1867. A Blacksmith by trade, he entered the Royal Navy, rated as a Blacksmith, on 12 May 1892. He was posted to the Jupiter on 2 August 1914. In January 1915 the Admiralty received a request for assistance from the Russian Government, the latter’s icebreaker used to keep open the passage to Archangel in the White Sea having broken down. In response the Royal Navy sent out the Tyne Guard Ship H.M.S. Jupiter, an old Majestic-class battleship. She departed for Archangel in February 1915, freeing en route a number of vessels stuck in the ice, occasionally by using explosive charges. She, too, sometimes became icebound, but still managed to make a major impression on the problem, improving the safe passage of numerous vessels, many of them laden with highly important war materials, among them the S.S. Thracia. The latter was taken in tow after the use of explosive charges to free her. Throughout these operations it was not unusual for the temperature to fall as low as minus 20 degrees, a hard test indeed on the morale and well being of the Jupiter’s crew. Her mission completed by May 1915, the Tzar expressed his gratitude by the presentation of a variety of Russian Honours and Awards to her crew. Lamerton left the Jupiter on 19 May 1915 having served in the above operations and was subsequently awarded the Russian Medal for Zeal. He returned to the ship, 12 August 1915-22 December 1916. Lamerton was demobilised on 29 January 1920. Sold with copied service papers.