Three: Able Seaman G. L. Bradley, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (221284 G. L. Bradley. A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (221284 G. L. Bradley. A.B. R.N.) nearly extremely fine (3) £80-120

George Lister Bradley was born at Gateshead, Co. Durham, on 27 August 1886, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd class on 2 July 1902, serving in H.M.S. Caledonia. Transferring to H.M.S. Crescent on 25 February 1904, he was advanced Ordinary Seaman on 27 August 1904, and promoted Able Seaman on 10 October 1905, whilst still serving in Crescent. His next ship was H.M.S. Shannon, and he served in her from 10 March 1908 to 21 February 1912, taking part in the Coronation Review of the Fleet at Spithead in June 1911, before being invalided to R.N. Hospital, Chatham, on 6 June 1912, having been wounded to the right side of his chest and left kidney (Service Record refers).

Shore pensioned, Bradley enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve on 17 September 1914, and served as an Able Seaman throughout the Great War in H.M.S. Actaeon from 25 September 1914 to 15 February 1918. Transferring to the ‘Q-Ship’ H.M.S. Mistletoe on 21 April 1918, he served in her for the final six months of the Great War, before being demobilised on 24 February 1919; however, he subsequently re-enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve on 17 September of that year. He was awarded his Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 19 January 1927, together with a gratuity of £100.

Sold with the recipient’s Parchment Certificate of Service, and continuation certificate of the above; two contemporary postcards showing the Coronation Review of the Fleet at Spithead, June 1911, both annotated by the recipient ‘... our ship is at the end of the line, the 4th line from the left, taken whilst we were all lit up...’; and two photographic images, of H.M.S. Shannon and H.M. Torpedo Boat 116.