Auction Catalogue

2 April 2004

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1142

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2 April 2004

Hammer Price:
£230

Seven: Chief Petty Officer J. W. Clarke, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (133413 C.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (133413 C.P.O., R.N.); Defence; Jubilee 1935; Royal Navy L.S.& G.C., E.VII.R. (P.O.1 Cl., H.M.S. Defiance); Special Constabulary L.S., G.VI.R., 1st issue (Joseph W. Clark), note ‘Clarke’ on first three medals, ‘Clark’ on last two, mounted for display; together with Anglesey Special Constabulary lapel badge, enamelled, generally extremely fine (8) £220-250

Joseph William Clarke was born on 21 April 1870 at Southport, Lancashire and entered the Royal Navy on 4 May 1885. He gained the ranks of Petty Officer 2nd Class whilst serving on the Dreadnaught in April 1895, Petty Officer 1st Class in April 1897 on the Talbot and Chief Petty Officer in October 1908 when serving on the Sappho. He was discharged with a pension in March 1910 but joined the R.F.R. in May of that year. With the outbreak of war he was mobilised and saw active service in the Royal Navy, mainly based at Devonport, until demobilised in March 1919. After the war he returned to his home at Holyhead, Anglesey and worked in the quarries until his retirement in 1935. With the outbreak of the Second World War and at the age of 69 he tried to enlist in the R.N.R. but was refused due to his advanced age. Nothing daunted, he promptly volunteered for the Special Constabulary in Holyhead, and being aceepted was given the service number ‘1S.C.’; added to which he also acted as an Air Raid Warden. After such sterling service to his country, Clarke died on 2 May 1950. Sold with copied service papers and handwritten biographical details and a copied photograph of the recipient in his Special Constabulary uniform.