Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class V. Sands, Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy

1914-15 Star (268445 C.E.R.A. 2, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (268445 C.E.R.A. 2, R.N.) good very fine (3)
£70-90

Valentine Sands was born in Portadown, Armagh, on 7 February 1874. A Turner and Fitter by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class in March 1895. Confirmed in that rank in February 1897 when on Vivid II, he was advanced to E.R.A. 3 in August 1898 when on Pigeon, E.R.A. 2 in June 1903 when on Melampus, and E.R.A. 1 in August 1907 when on Pelorus. Sands was rated as Acting C.E.R.A. 2 in September 1910 when on Gibraltar and was confirmed in that rank in September 1911 when aboard the Challenger. Sands was transferred to the Challenger’s sister ship Encounter in June 1912 and served aboard her until April 1919, being twice rated as C.E.R.A. 1. As such he served as a member of the Royal Australian Navy, the ship being transferred to the R.A.N. in 1912.

Following the outbreak of war, H.M.A.S. Encounter was part of the force which occupied German New Guinea - capturing the steamer Zambezi on 12 August 1914, bombarding the Toma Ridge in support of Australian forces, 14 September, and covering the landing at Madang on 24 December 1914. The remainder of her war was spent on patrol in the Pacific Ocean and the waters around the East Indies. C.E.R.A.1 Sands was demobilised in January 1920. With copied service paper and research concerning H.M.S. Encounter.