Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Chief Yeoman of Signals W. R. Watson, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (J.25853 O. Sig., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.25853 W. R. Watson, Sig., R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1937, unnamed; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (J.25853 W. R. Watson. L. Sig., H.M.S. Resolution); Greece, Cross of Valour, 4th Class, unnamed, mounted for display, edge bruising, contact marks, fine and better (6) £400-£500

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

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William Robert Watson was born in Edinburgh on 13 February 1898. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on Ganges in July 1913 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class, then Signal Boy in February 1914. As such he served on the protected cruiser Diana, July 1914-March 1915, after which he was based at Vivid I, March-May 1915. He then served on the armoured cruiser Devonshire, May 1915-September 1916, being advanced to Ordinary Signalman in August 1915 and Signalman in July 1916. After a period ashore at Vivid I, September 1916-March 1917, he was posted to Attentive II, March 1917-March 1918, and service on several destroyers including Ambuscade and Fawn. He was promoted to Leading Signalman in June 1921 and served on the battle cruiser Hood, January 1926-August 1928. He was passed for Yeoman of Signals on 1 July 1926, and awarded the L.S. & G.C. on 9 April 1931, when serving in the battleship Resolution. He was awarded the Greek Cross of Valour, 4th Class, as Acting Yeoman of Signals in Resolution, in recognition of services on the occasion of the earthquake in Chalcidice on 26 September 1932 (Admiralty Fleet Order 2359 of 1933 refers). Shore Pensioned in May 1938, he was recalled in August 1939 and served at various shore stations in the U.K. as Chief Yeoman of Signals (Pensioner) until July 1941 and was finally released in December 1945. Sold with copied A.F.O. listing all Greek Decorations awarded for the Chalcidice earthquake and copied record of service which confirm the last three awards.