Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Sick Room Attendant C. Mellish, Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve

1914-15 Star (M.9619 C. Mellish, S.R.A., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.9619 C. Mellish. S.R.A., R.N.) note initial ‘G’ on these two medals; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue, with Second and Third Award Clasps (1408 C. Mellish, Sen. R.A., R.N.A.S.B.R.); St. John Service Medal, silver, 3 silver bars (5740 Sgt. C. Mellish S. Met. Gas Co. Cps. No. 1 Dis. SJAB 1927) some contact marks, nearly very fine and better (7) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of David Lloyd.

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Provenance: John Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, December 2008.

Charles Mellish was born at Bermondsey, London, on 1 January 1893. A gas fitter by trade he joined the Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve as a Senior Reserve Attendant on 2 August 1914, initially for a period of 1 year but then extended for the duration of hostilities. Apart from a short period from December 1917 to February 1918, when the ship was paid off for refitting,he served aboard the armed merchant cruiser Orotava from 21 December 1914 to 31 December 1918. She was armed with five 6-inch guns and two 6-pounder H.A. guns and was commissioned on 17 December 1914, as part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, from December 1914 to October 1916 with the Northern Patrol. Orotava was converted to a Seaplane Tender about November 1916, after which she was off West Africa and in the Southern Atlantic from November 1916 to November 1917. Recommissioned on 26 February 1918, Mellish continued in Orotava until 31 December 1918. He was discharged to shore for demobilisation from Pembroke I on 6 April 1919.

Charles Mellish was awarded the R.N.A.S.B.R. Long Service Medal on 30 November 1920; he was awarded his first clasp on 5 November 1934 and the second on 26 October 1943. He was awarded the St. John Service Medal in 1927 and bars in 1933, 1938 and 1942. Sold with copied record of service and other research.