Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (William R. Sweet, Lg. Stoker, H.M.S. Indus) impressed naming; together with an Arctic Medal 1876, this last a later unnamed specimen, good very fine and better (2) £600-800

William Robert Sweet was born in Stoke, Devon, on 20 February 1845. He entered the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 7 February 1870 and was ranked as a Stoker in July 1873. He served as such on H.M.S. Discovery, April 1875-April 1876 and qualified for the Arctic Medal 1876. He attained the rank of Leading Stoker in September 1877 when on H.M.S. Indus. Pensioned ashore on 18 May 1890.

He is listed in British Polar Exploration and Research, by Rear-Admiral J. A. L. Myres, C.B., with the comment that his original ‘[Arctic ] Medal reported to have been used as a brooch and with a replacement suspender.’

With copied service papers.