Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Lieutenant-Commander (S) George Kingsford, Royal Navy, who was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Russian Cross of St George for services in H.M.S. Southampton at the Battle of Jutland

1914-15 Star (342214 G. Kingsford, S.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (342214 G. Kingsford. S.S. R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (342214 George Kingsford, Sh. Stwd. H.M.S. Southampton); Russia, Empire, Cross of St George, 4th Class, officially numbered ‘091 204’, mounted as worn, good very fine (7) £600-£800

M.I.D. London Gazette 19 September 1916 (Jutland).

Russian Cross of St George, 4th Class Admiralty Fleet Order 1774 of 30 May 1918 (Jutland).

George Kingsford was born on 24 September 1883, in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and joined the Royal Navy as a Ship’s Steward ‘B’ on 1 July 1898. By the time of the outbreak of war in 1914, Kingsford was a Ship’s Steward aboard H.M.S. Southampton, which ship he had joined in November 1912. In Southampton he earned his third Good Conduct Badge on 21 September 1914, was ‘Commended for good services in the North Sea 31 May-1 June 1916’, and qualified for his L.S. & G.C. medal on 24 November 1916. He left Southampton on 20 December 1917 and went ashore to Vernon, Torpedo School at Portchester Creek, Portsmouth, where he was advanced to Victualling Chief Petty Officer. He had been recommended for Warrant Steward rank back in December 1916 and this finally came to pass in September 1923 when he was transferred to the Officers Section as Warrant Supply Officer. He served in the Mediterranean aboard the Aircraft Carrier Eagle from February 1924 to December 1926, and was afterwards shore based at Victory and then Fisgard until May 1932 when he returned to Victory, where he was promoted to Paymaster Lieutenant on 19 December 1932. He remained there until his retirement on 24 September 1933. During the Second World War he returned to Victory and served in the Commodore’s Office from October 1942, being promoted to Lieutenant Commander (S) retired on 5 October 1944. He appears to have had a Greenwich Hospital pension from 1955. He died on 13 May 1968.

Sold with copied record of service and other research.