Seven: Leading Seaman J. Huntlea, Royal Navy, who served with the Royal Observer Corps on the Home Front during the Second World War

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (J. Huntlea. Ord. H.M.S. Rambler); 1914-15 Star (187687, J. Huntlea, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (187687 J. Huntlea. L.S. R.N.); Defence Medal (Obs: J. Huntlea R.O.C.), privately impressed; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (187687 (Ch. B. 3658) J. Huntlea. L.S. R.F.R.) officially re-impressed naming; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Joseph Huntlea.), edge knocks and minor contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (7) £240-£280

Joseph Huntlea was born in Bideford, Devon, on 5 October 1880, and entered naval service as a Boy 2nd Class on 27 February 1896, serving in H.M.S. Impregnable. He served in Rambler during the Boer War, seeing promotion to Ordinary Seaman in October 1898 and Able Seaman in February 1901. Enrolling in the Royal Fleet Reserve in January 1906, he re-engaged for wartime service on 2 August 1914 as an Able Seaman in H.M.S. Aboukir; later serving in shore bases and in H.M.S. St George from 15 November 1915 to 30 April 1919, he was promoted to Leading Seaman on 27 June 1918. Demobilised in September 1919, he saw service on the Home Front during the Second War as member of the Royal Observer Corps. Initial observers were regarded as members of the Special Constabulary, which, perhaps, explains Huntlea’s Long Service Medal.