Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Ten: Chief Yeoman Signaller C. W. Sylvester, Royal Navy - awarded the M.S.M. for service against the Bolsheviks in the Baltic, 1919

1914-15 Star (200653 Y.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (200653 Y.S., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these unnamed; Royal Navy Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (200563 Yeo. Sigs. “Vanity” Baltic 1919) mounted as worn, good very fine and better (10) £500-600

Ex Douglas-Morris Collection, B.D.W. 12 February 1997; and D.N.W. 18 May 2011.

M.S.M. London Gazette 8 March 1920. ‘Honours for services in the Baltic’

Charles William Sylvetser was born in Kidderminster, Dorset on 9 May 1883. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 29 August 1898 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in October 1898, training in Signalling. Serving on Benbow, May 1900-October 1903, he was advanced to Ordinary Signaller in January 1901, Leading Signaller in June 1907 when on Egmont and Yeoman Signaller in April 1912 when on Swiftsure. During the early years of the war he served as such on the armoured cruiser Cochrane, April 1913-April 1915, then on destroyers based on Dido, September 1915-March 1918. After service on Blake, April 1918-February 1919, he was posted to the destroyers Vivacious, March-September 1919 and Vanity, October 1919-October 1920, on which ships he saw service in the Baltic Sea. The ships formed part of the squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair, which was used to deny the Bolsheviks use of the sea and to bombard their land forces in support of the Estonian and Latvian troops and provide them with supplies. For his services Sylvester was awarded the Royal Navy M.S.M. Whilst still on Vanity in March 1920 he attained the rank of Chief Yeoman Signaller. He was pensioned on 18 June 1923. During the Second World War he served as Chief Yeoman of Signals aboard the hospital ship Oxfordshire, January 1941-June 1945. Released from the Navy on 27 November 1945. With copied service papers and census extracts.