Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Chief Petty Officer R. D. Abbs, Royal Navy

British War and Victory Medals (L.713 O.C.1, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (L.713, O.C.C. H.M.S. Pembroke); Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver (R. Abbs, C.P.O., R.N. L713) mounted as worn, contact marks, some edge bruising, fine and better (4) £180-220

Roger Dick Abbs was born in Horsham, Surrey on 30 March 1892. A Carpenter by occupation, he enlisted as a Boy Servant on Pembroke I on 14 October 1908, being advanced to Officer’s Cook 3rd Class in November 1910. He was rated an Officer’s Steward 2nd Class on Hearty in August 1910; then when on Shannon in November 1910 he was rated as Officer’s Cook 1st Class. His first period of service ended in 1913 but he returned to the Navy in May 1916, serving as Officer’s Cook 1st Class aboard the armoured cruiser Cochrane, May-December 1916, seeing service at the battle of Jutland. He then served on the dreadnought battleships Queen Elizabeth, December 1916-February 1917; Iron Duke, February-May 1917 and Queen Elizabeth, May 1917-February 1919. As Officer’s Chief Cook he was awarded the Royal Navy L.S. & G.C. in 1930 when at Pembroke. He was awarded the R.V.M. in Silver on 21 November 1934 as Officer’s Chief Cook aboard H.M.S. Sussex on the occasion of H.R.H. Duke of Gloucester’s visit to Australia. With copied service paper and roll extracts.