Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Leading Telegraphist J. C. Summerfield, Royal Canadian Navy, late Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (J.33343 B. Tel., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.33343 Tel., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S.& G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (J.33343 L. Tel., H.M.C.S. Stadacona), mounted as worn; together with a silver pocket watch, by Hamilton & Inches, Edinbugh, backplate with monogram, ‘JCS’, inside inscribed, ‘Presented to John C. Summerfield, in recognition of his services in the Band of H.M.S. Birkenhead, Feb. 1917’, medals with slight edge bruising and some contact marks, nearly very fine and better (5) £240-280

John Clarke Summerfield was born on 20 October 1898 in Willesdon, London. He entered the Royal Navy, direct from school, as a Boy 2nd Class on 20 November 1914, and was rated as a Telegraphist aboard H.M.S. Impregnable (Devonport Boys’ Training Ship) on 24 April 1915. He served aboard the cruiser H.M.S. Yarmouth from 26 May 1915 until transferred to the cruiser H.M.S. Birkenhead, on which he served, as Telegraphist and bandsman from 11 October 1915 until February 1917. The Birkenhead was present at Jutland, forming part of the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron attached to the battlecruiser force. He then served aboard the destroyer leader H.M.S. Parker to the end of the war. Paid a War Gratuity, he gained the rank of leading Telegraphist whilst serving aboard the battleship H.M.S. Malaya in 1921. At the time of the award of his L.S.& G.C. Medal he was aboard the Royal Canadian Navy ship Stadacona. In 1932 Summerfield was a member of the Rockcliffe Wireless Transmission Station in Ontario, complemented for their efficiency and zeal by Commodore Walter Hose, R.C.N., Chief of the Naval Staff. Summerfield, as a telegraphist, would appear to have been involved in a R.N. and R.C.N. operation to counter an uprising in San Salvador in January 1932.

Sold with a handwritten letter of appreciation that accompanied the watch and a copy of a typewritten letter of appreciation to C.P.O. Telegraphist H. Barnes R.N. and the complement of Naval W/T. Station, Rockcliffe, Ontario, for the efficiency and zeal in the reception and despatch of messages between Ottawa, H.M.S. Delhi and H.M.C.S. Skeena on the night of 22-23 January 1932; this inscribed by hand on the back, ‘To J. C. Summerfield’. Also sold with copied service paper and some research details.