Four: Lieutenant F. R. Blair, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

1914-15 Star (Lieut. F. R. Blair, R.N.V.R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lieut. F. R. Blair. R.N.V.R.); Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R., with Second Award Clasp (6 F. R. Blair, C.P.O., R.N.V.R.) mounted court style for display, very fine and better, rare (4) £600-£800

Provenance: John Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2008.

Only 65 Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medals awarded during the reign of Edward VII, of which 8 subsequently had clasps.

Frank Robertson Blair was awarded the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 20 December 1910. During the Great War he was granted a Temporary Commission as a Sub-Lieutenant on 15 January 1915, and from 29 January 1915 he held the command the yacht Maire of the Motor Boat Reserve- this vessel he commanded as the only officer aboard for a total of three years. On 28 July 1915 he was promoted to Lieutenant on the Permanent List of the R.N.V.R., and in March 1918 he was borne as an Additional for special service on the submarine depot ship H.M.S. Pactolus. For his services during the Great War Blair was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 24 May 1919) ‘for services in the Auxiliary Patrol between 1st July and 11th November 1918’. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 29 July 1919 when he was demobilised, and was awarded a Second Award Bar to his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 18 January 1922.