Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well-documented and unusual ‘casualty’ group of five awarded to Chief Petty Officer J. W. Varney, Royal Navy, wounded when part of a landing party at Mowilla in the Red Sea, 21 March 1915

Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (212923. J. W. Varney, LG. Sea. H.M.S. Sphinx.); 1914-15 Star (212923, J. W. Varney. P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (212923 J. W. Varney. P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (212923 J. W. Varney. P.O. H.M.S. Erin.) generally very fine (5) £300-400

Provenance: DNW, September 2001.

John William Varney was born in Bermondsey, London, in May 1885. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in January 1901, and advanced to Leading Seaman in October 1912. Subsequent service included in H.M.S. Sphinx, March 1913 - August 1914, before transferring as Petty Officer to R.I.M.S. Dufferin in August 1914. Varney continued to take part in operations in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea to suppress the arms trade.

On 21 March 1915, in an effort to prevent the Turkish Army from reaching the Suez Canal, a naval landing was planned to take place at Mowilla in the Red Sea. The Dufferin’s log for the latter date states, ‘0856. Stopped at Mowila and sent away P.O. party in the first cutter, and galley in charge Lieut. R.I.M. When nearing shore boats fired on from ambush. Ship opened fire on fore shore to cover retreat of boats. 1000. Boats returned cease fire. 1030. Proceeded at 1/2 speed 75 revs. to Suez.’

Petty Officer Varney’s Certificate of Wounds and Hurts adds the following additional detail, ‘Joseph [sic] William Varney P.O. His Majesty’s Ship “Dufferin” being then actually on His Majesty’s Service in Landing Party at Mowilla, Red Sea was wounded on 21st March by fire of the enemy as they reached shore. Bullet wound as follows, entry wound right buttock exit wound left buttock. There was a haemorrhage from both wounds.’

Interestingly Varney’s service record states that he was issued with a duplicate N.G.S. ‘free of charge to replace the original lost on active.’ It is recorded that ‘a consignment of these medals [N.G.S.] was despatched from London, on 18th December 1915, in S.S. Persia. Unfortunately she was torpedoed and sunk by U38, 30th December, and the medals together with 334 of the 501 passengers and crew were lost. This possibly explains why some Persian Gulf medals are found impressed in later smaller lettering and issued with a fixed suspension, to replace those lost.’ (British Battles and Medals refers)

Varney’s N.G.S., however, is 1st type with swivel suspension. His service during the Great War included with H.M.S Pembroke, November 1916 to June 1917, and then the Ceres until March 1920. Varney advanced to Chief Petty Officer in June 1923, and was pensioned in May 1925. He transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve before being mobilised for service as Chief Petty Officer during the Second War. Varney was discharged from the Navy in June 1944, and died in Barnstaple in 1980.

Sold with the following original documents: three Royal Navy Certificates of Service; two Certificates for Wounds and Hurts, dated 5 May 1910 and 22 March 1915 respectively; Gunnery and Torpedo History Sheet; General Passing Certificate, dated June 1912; Great War ‘Welcome Home Certificate’ from Kew Parish Church; letter of appreciation of service from the Commodore, Chatham Naval Barracks and a quantity of photographs from various stages of Varney’s service career.