A Great War ‘Al Valore Militare’ group of five awarded to Chief Mechanician J. G. Friend, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (232807 Act. Mech., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (232807 Mech., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (232807 Mechn., H.M.S. Osea), this with minor correction; Italy, Kingdom, Al Valore Militare, bronze, unmarked, unnamed, British medals with contact marks, fine and better, last nearly extremely fine (5) £400-500

John George Friend was born in Deal, Kent in February 1887. A Porter by occupation he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in January 1905, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in March the same year. He was promoted to Stoker 2nd Class in August 1905 when on the Acheron; to Stoker 1st Class in July 1906 on the Amphitrite; Acting Leading Stoker in August 1909 on the Bacchante; Acting Stoker Petty Officer in November 1910 when based at Pembroke I, and Stoker Petty Officer in November 1911 when on the Triumph. With the onset of war Friend was serving on the 3rd class cruiser Diamond and was appointed Acting Mechanician on 1 January 1915. In March he was transferred to the old battleship Russell and was advanced to Mechanician in January 1916. He was aboard her when she was mined and sunk off Malta on 27 April 1916. In the court martial to ascertain the loss of the vessel, Friend was one of a number of officers and men commended. Resulting from this he was awarded the Al Valore Militare (London Gazette 17 November 1917). He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal whilst based at Osea, August 1919-June 1921, this being the coastal motor boat base at Clacton-on-Sea, 1919-21. Further service followed and he attained the rank of Chief Mechanician 2nd Class in April 1924, when on the dreadnaught battleship Marlborough. Chief Mechanician Friend was pensioned ashore on 10 February 1927. Sold with copied service papers and Admiralty papers relating to the loss of the Russell.