Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War O.B.E. group of six awarded to Paymaster Captain T. A. Woolf, Royal Navy, for service on the Red Sea Patrol

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1917; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Ast-Clerk: T. A. Woolf, H:M:S: Terrible.); China 1900, no clasp (Clerk: T.A. Woolf, R.N., H.M.S. Terrible); 1914-15 Star (Payr. T. A. Woolf. R.N.) British War and Victory Medals (Payr. Lt. Cr. T. A. Woolf. R.N.) minor loss of gilding to OBE, otherwise good very fine and better (6) £600-£800

O.B.E. London Gazette 22 April 1919:
‘For valuable services as Accountant Officer of H.M.S. Fox on the Red Sea Patrol for three years.’

Thomas Alfred Woolf was born on 17 January 1882, entering the Royal Navy as an assistant Clerk aboard H.M.S. Duke of Wellington on 15 July 1899. Joining H.M.S. Terrible on 15 September 1899, he saw service with this ship during the South Africa and China wars, before Joining H.M.S. Sans Pareil as a Clerk on 13 December 1902. Between 1902 and being promoted Paymaster on 9 October 1914, he served on numerous ships, having served 10 years in the acting rank, and served during the Great War on the Red Sea Patrol in H.M.S. Fox. He was promoted Paymaster-Commander on 9 October 1920, and Paymaster Captain on 17 January 1932, and died on 12 May 1937.