Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine American ‘China Service’ and Second World War group of nine awarded to Lieutenant John Degraff Ware, United States Navy

Navy Good Conduct Medal, 2 clasps, 1936, 1940, these pin-backed, medal inscribed on reverse, ‘John Degraff Ware, 1932’, with full wrap brooch bar; Yangtze Service Medal (U.S.N.) edge numbered, ‘M.No.4237’, with full wrap brooch bar; China Service Medal (U.S.N.), unnumbered later issue with knob and ring suspension, with crimp brooch bar; American Defense Medal, 1 clasp, Fleet; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal; Victory Medal 1945; Expert Rifleman Medal (U.S.N.), reverse inscribed, ‘John D. Ware, Olongapo P.I. May 1934’, with full wrap brooch bar; Soochow Creek Medal 1937, unofficial brass medal, reverse inscribed (name and ship engraved) ‘Presented to John Degraffe Ware, U.S.S. Panay for Bravery and Valor, Battle of Soochow Creek, Shanghai 1937’, ribbon with brooch bar; together with riband bars (3) and U.S.N. pin-backed badge, good very fine (lot) £450-550

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine collection of awards for the Boxer Rebellion 1900.

View
Collection

John Degraffe Ware served in the U.S. Navy as an enlisted man, 1 November 1928-27 August 1943 and as an officer, 28 August 1943-1 July 1956. His record of service as an enlisted man, lists service aboard U.S.S. Vestal, January 1930-April 1934 and June 1934-December 1935; U.S.S. Northampton, December 1935-April 1940; U.S.S. Oklahoma, April 1940-August 1941; U.S.S. Black Hawke, September 1941; and U.S.S. John D. Edwards, September 1941-July 1943. When serving on the destroyer John D. Edwards, Ware saw action in the battle of the Java Sea, 27 February-1 March 1942.

The Soochow Creek Medal was originally struck as a satirical decoration to commemorate the 1932 U.S. Marine defence of the international settlement at Shanghai. It was manufactured locally, probably by the firm of Tuck Chang, at 67 Broadway, Shanghai, and was available at a cost of $2.00 from various company offices and through the regimental newspaper Walla Walla. Likewise, during the 1937 emergency, the medal was revived and “awarded” to Marines and sailors who rallied to the cause.

With 10 photographs of the recipient and others, plus scenes of the conflict in China; copied service papers and some copied research on the Soochow Creek Medal.