Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Petty Officer W. Matthews, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (J.30 W. Matthews, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.30 W. Matthew. [sic], L.S., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J.30 W. Matthews, P.O. H.M.S. Dragon); Italy, Kingdom, Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, silver, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (5) £300-£400

William Matthews was born in St. Pancras, London, on 28 October 1891, and enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 21 January 1908. He was serving in H.M.S. Euryalus during the relief effort subsequent to the devastating earthquake in Messina, Italy, in December 1908, and his Great War service included service in H.M. Ships Inflexible Hannibal. Advanced Petty Officer on 5 May 1924, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 4 November 1924.