Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Officers’ Cook 3rd Class E. Goard, Royal Navy
1914-15 Star (L.5330, E. Goard, O.C.3., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (L.5330 E. Goard. O.C.3 R.N.) good very fine

Three: Able Seaman C. N. Spires, Royal Navy
British War and Victory Medals (J.46332 C. N. Spires. A.B. R.N.); Defence Medal (C. N. Spires.) contemporarily impressed ‘Boots style’, spot of verdigris to obverse of VM, otherwise nearly extremely fine (6) £100-140

Edward Goard was born in Plymouth, Devon, on 28 November 1895, and joined the Royal Navy as an Officers’ Cook 3rd Class on 28 April 1914. Posted to the Depot Ship Gibraltar, he remained in her until 27 November 1914, probably in the Shetlands, where she was a depot ship for the Northern Patrols, before joining H.M.S. Argyll on 11 December 1914, remaining in her until she was wrecked on Bell Rock on 28 October 1915. In January 1916 he joined the depot ship Leander, before joining the light cruiser H.M.S. Concord on 18 December 1916, remaining in her for the rest of the War. He was discharged on 26 June 1919.

Charles Neville Spires was born in Camberwell, London, on 5 August 1896 and joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman on 10 November 1915 for the duration of hostilities. After three weeks at H.M.S. Pembroke, he joined H.M.S. Alert on 10 December 1915 (also entitled to a 1914-15 Star), and was advanced in her to Able Seaman on 2 November 1916. Between 17 May and 30 September 1917 he was attached to the Royal Indian Marine Troopship Dalhousie, but during this period spent spells in hospital, both in Basra and Bombay. Returning to the United Kingdom, he qualified as a Seaman Gunner on 17 July 1918, and was demobilised on 11 February 1919.