Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (K.20389 B. Fuzzard. Sto.1. H.M.Y. Victoria & Albert.) very fine £80-120

Benjamin Fuzzard was born in Portland, Dorset, in 1891 and joined the Royal Navy in September 1912. He served during the Great War as a Stoker in H.M.S. Irresistible, initially on patrol duties in the English Channel, and before sailing to the Dardanelles, where she took part in the bombardment of the Turkish Forts in February 1915. On 15 March of that year she hit a mine in the Dardanelles, and sank with the loss of 15 lives. Fuzzard survived the sinking, and soon after joined H.M.S. Amethyst, serving in her for the rest of the Great War. On 10 August 1921 he transferred to the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert, and was awarded his Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 21 December 1928. He was still serving in her at the time of both George V’s Silver Jubilee in 1935 (entitled to medal), and George VI’s Coronation in 1937 (again entitled to medal). He served in her throughout the Second World War, and was finally discharged on 13 August 1945.