Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class A. Vincent, Royal Navy - awarded the Russian Medal for Zeal for services on H.M.S. Jupiter

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (159909 A. Vincent, Ch. E.R.A. 1Cl., H.M.S. Redbreast) suspension re-fitted, third digit overstruck; Russia, Medal for Zeal, Nicholas II, small silver (1599.. A. Vincent, C.E.R.A. 1Cl., H.M.S. Jupiter) incorrect ribbon, second medal with edge bruising, both with contact marks, nearly very fine and better (2) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Ron Tuppen Collection of Naval Medals to Engine Room Officers.

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Arthur Vincent was born in Scorrier, Cornwall on 29 March 1868. A Boiler Maker by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer on 10 April 1891, being confirmed in that rank in October 1892. He served on the gunboat Sparrow, January 1892-January 1894 - the ship being involved in the expedition in Gambia against Chief Fodeh Cabbah, December 1891-February 1892 and again in the Pumwani and Jongeni campaign on the Witu River, August 1893. Vincent was advanced to E.R.A. 3rd Class in April 1894 on Melampus; E.R.A. 2nd Class on Katoomba; C.E.R.A. 2nd Class in April 1900 on Mohawk and C.E.R.A. 1st Class at Victory II. He served on the gunboat Redbreast, March 1908-March 1910, seeing service in the Persian Gulf. Vincent was pensioned in April 1913 but re-employed for the Great War. He served as C.E.R.A. 1st Class on the old battleship Jupiter, August 1914-May 1915.

In January 1915 the Admiralty received a request for assistance from the Russian Government, the latter’s icebreaker used to keep open the passage to Archangel in the White Sea having broken down. In response the Royal Navy sent out the Tyne Guard Ship - Jupiter. She departed for Archangel in February 1915, freeing en route a number of vessels stuck in the ice, occasionally by using explosive charges. She, too, sometimes became icebound, but still managed to make a major impression on the problem, improving the safe passage of numerous vessels, many of them laden with highly important war materials, among them the S.S. Thracia. The latter was taken in tow after the use of explosive charges to free her. Throughout these operations it was not unusual for the temperature to fall as low as minus 20 degrees, a hard test indeed on the morale and well being of the Jupiter’s crew. Her mission completed by May 1915, the Tzar expressed his gratitude by the presentation of a variety of Russian Honours and Awards to her crew.

The remainder of Vincent’s wartime service was at Vivid; being demobilised on 16 July 1919. Vincent was also entitled to the 1914-15 Star trio. With copied service papers.