Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Chief Petty Officer W. Endacott, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Russian Medal of St. George, most likely for the Battle of Jutland

China 1900, no clasp (Wm. Endacott, A.B. H.M.S. Bonaventure.); 1914-15 Star (180864, W. Endicott [sic], P.O.1. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (180864, W. Endicott [sic], C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (180864 William Endacott, P.O. 1Cl, H.M.S. Cumberland.); Russia, Empire, Medal of St. George, Fourth Class, silver, unnamed, the reverse officially numbered ‘1272756’, replacement suspension ring to last, edge bruising, nearly very fine (6) £400-£500

William Endacott was born in Ellacombe, Devon, on 21 April 1878. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Impregnable on 24 July 1893. He transferred to H.M.S. Bonadventure on 20 March 1898, was promoted Able Seaman on 1 July of that year, and served in her during the Third China War. Prior to the outbreak of the Great War, he served on a large number of ships, was advanced Petty Officer First Class on 1 May 1906, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 5 May 1911.

Endacott spent the majority of the Great War serving in the Orion-class Dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Thunderer, having joined this ship on 15 June 1912, and was present at the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. Awarded the Russian Medal of St. George Fourth Class, it is most likely it was for his services at Jutland. Promoted Chief Petty Officer on 1 November 1917, he was shore pensioned on 6 March 1918, and joined the Royal Naval Reserve the following day.