Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Lieutenant-Commander F. S. Gidley, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Russian medal of St Anne for services at the battle of Jutland as Chief Gunner in H.M.S. Collingwood

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1891-2 (F. S. Gidley P.O. 1st Cl., H.M.S. Widgeon.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (F. S. Gidley, Gnr., R.N., H.M.S. Magpie) last two letter of surname officially corrected, good very fine or better (2) £400-£500

Frederick Samuel Gidley was born in Torquay, Devon, on 26 November 1867, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 25 August 1883. Advancing steadily through the rates he became Petty Officer 1st Class in January 1891 whilst serving aboard H.M.S. Widgeon, and was promoted to Acting Gunner on 13 May 1897. He was Gunner aboard H.M.S. Magpie during operations at the Cape of Good Hope and on the West Coast of Africa, 1899-1903. He was promoted to Chief Gunner on 13 May 1912, having joined the battleship Collingwood two months earlier, in which ship he remained until May 1918, including the battle of Jutland. He was awarded the Russian Medal of St Anne for distinguished services in the Battle of Jutland (London Gazette 1 October 1917). Promoted to Lieutenant R.N. on 13 September 1918, he retired in the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 13 September 1926.