Four: Petty Officer 1st Class W. J. Brice, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (173948 P.O.1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (173948 P.O.1, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (173948 P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Wallaroo) mounted for display, good very fine (4) £80-100

William John Brice was born in St. Martin’s, Jersey on 23 January 1878. A Greenwich School Boy, he entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 13 June 1893, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in April 1894. Serving on Hawke, he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in January 1896 and to Able Seaman in June the same year. Serving on Glory, he was promoted to Leading Seaman in December 1904 and to Petty Officer 2nd Class in June 1905. He attained the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class when on Irresistible in July 1909. Brice served on Wallaroo - the guard ship at Chatham, November 1914-May 1916, being awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in February 1915. He then served on the pre-dreadnought battleship Swiftsure, May 1916-April 1917, engaged in Atlantic convoy duties; after which he served on the pre-dreadnought battleship Lord Nelson from September 1917 until demobilised in 1919.

With copied service papers.

For his father’s medals, see lot 1303.