Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Petty Officer First Class F. H. Willcocks, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (147405 F. H. Willcocks, P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (147405 F. H. Willcocks. P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (147405 F. H. Willcocks, P.O. 1Cl. H.M.S. Defiance.) good very fine (4) £100-£140

Francis Henry Willcocks was born in East Stonehouse, Devon, on 31 December 1873 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Lion on 12 January 1889. He was advanced Ordinary Seaman in H.M.S. Collingwood on 31 December 1891, and was promoted Able Seaman on 20 January 1893, and Leading Seaman on 3 October 1899, and Petty Officer Second Class on 28 May 1902. He re-engaged on 31 December 1903 to complete for pension, and was advanced Petty Officer First Class on 14 March 1908. He was shore pensioned on 5 January 1914, and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 11 January of that year.

Following the outbreak of the Great War, Willcocks was recalled to the Service, ands served in a variety of ships, including on three separate occasions in H.M.S. Defiance, in which ship he was serving when he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 19 January 1918. He was shore demobilised from H.M.S. Impregnable on 31 March 1920, his Great War medals having been issued to him there. In 1939 he was living at 23 North Street, Plymouth, with his wife Bessie Willcocks. He died in Plymouth in 1941, aged 67.

Sold with copied record of service.