Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A ‘double issue’ group of six awarded to Lieutenant F. W. Weeks, Royal Naval Reserve and Mercantile Marine, who was awarded the Albert Medal for saving the life of a member of the crew in 1917, and the French Croix de Guerre for actions against submarines and saving the crew of a Sea-plane

1914-15 Star (Lieut. F. W Weeks, R.N.R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. F. W. Weeks. R.N.R.); British War and Mercantile Marine War Medals (Frederick W. Weeks); France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1917, with bronze palm emblem on riband, good very fine and better (6) £600-£800

A.M. Second Class London Gazette 13 March 1917:
‘On the night of Thursday, 18 January 1917, a member of the crew of one of his Majesty's Ships, when returning from leave, fell into the sea between the ship and the quay. The matter was at once reported to Acting Lieutenant Frederick William Weeks, R.N.R., to whom it was obvious that any attempt at rescue must be attended by considerable danger. The ship, which was kept clear of the side of the quay by spar fenders of only nine inches in diameter, was working to and fro with the slight swell entering the harbour. Moreover the man was incapable of helping himself; he was of heavy build and was wearing a uniform greatcoat. In view of the risk to the rescuer of being crushed between the ship and the quay, Lieutenant Weeks decided that he could not order a man down. He thereupon took a line and went down himself. By this time the man was almost unconscious. Lieutenant Weeks managed to obtain a hold of his hair and by this means kept him sufficiently above water, whilst wedging himself with his back against the quay with his knees against the ship's side. During this time he was mostly under water, the temperature of which was thirty-nine degrees. He succeeded in securing a line round the man, who was hauled on deck. The man was unconscious and very nearly drowned when brought on deck, and there is no doubt that, but for Lieutenant Weeks' prompt measures, he would have lost his life.’

French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 17 May 1918.
The Recommendation states: ‘Second in Command and Navigating Officer of Halcyon since 1 September 1915. During this period, he successfully engaged enemy submarines on the 29 July 1917, salved valuable engines of the S.S. Bethlehem in May 1917, and owing to this Officer’s good navigating, the Halcyon was instrumental in saving a large America Sea-plane, with its Officers and men, after having been adrift for days.’

Frederick William Weeks was appointed Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve on 17 July 1915, and on 1 September of that year joined H.M.S. Halcyon, a Dryad-Class torpedo gunboat that had been converted to a minesweeper, and had once been described as ‘perhaps the smallest and least formidable vessel that ever crept into the Navy List’. Promoted Temporary Acting Lieutenant on 28 September 1915, he served with this ship until March 1918, and was promoted Temporary Lieutenant on 17 July 1916. His service papers are full of reports of his ‘exceptional’ ability and he was recommended for promotion to the permanent List. He joined H.M.S. Camellia on 5 March 1918, and was demobilised on 2 December 1919.

Sold with box of issue lids for the Royal Naval Reserve Great War medals and the French Croix de Guerre; an Admiralty letter concerning the Citation for the Croix de Guerre; and copied research.