Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (3) (K.3910 B. A. Coombe. S.P.O. H.M.S. Clematis.; K.5913 W. H. Thomas. S.P.O. H.M.S. Despatch.; 217572 W. C. Norval. P.O. H.M.S. Vivid) contact marks, nearly very fine and better (3) £100-£140

Bertie Aldred Coombe was born on 19 February 1889 in St. Germans, Cornwall. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in August 1909 and first posted to H.M.S. Vivid. During the Great War, Coombe served with the cruiser H.M.S. Active from February 1914 until November 1915. Following this he spent the remainder of the war on the crew of the sloop H.M.S. Snapdragon. Following further service, he was transferred to H.M.S. Clematis and it was whilst serving with this ship that he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He was discharged with a pension in August 1931, but was recalled on the outbreak of the Second World War and then served on boom defence vessels.

William Henry Thomas was born on 24 August 1891 in Edmonton, London. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in March 1910 and was first posted to H.M.S Victory. During the Great War, Thomas served with various ships and shore establishments including H.M.S. Excellent, the cruiser H.M.S. Attentive and the destroyer, Nubian before embarking on submariner training. In February 1917, he joined the submarine depot ship H.M.S. Dolphin and transferred to H.M. Submarine E41 in March 1917. In May 1920 he was posted to Submarine K8 and served with her until June 1921. Thomas was later transferred to the light cruiser H.M.S. Dispatch in January 1925. It was whilst serving with this ship that he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. He was discharged with a pension in March 1932, but was recalled on the outbreak of the Second World War and then served with H.M.S. Iron Duke, Greenwich, Proserpine and Havelock.

Walter Charles Norval was born on 3 January 1886 in Kensington, London. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in October 1901 as a Boy Second Class and was first posted to H.M.S. Impregnable. During the Great War, he served with the cruiser H.M.S. Gloucester and the destroyer H.M.S. Prince. Following further service, he was transferred to H.M.S. Vivid in July 1922 and it was whilst serving with this shore establishment that he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, having reached the rate of Petty Officer. Norval was discharged with a pension in April 1926, but was recalled on the outbreak of the Second World War and then served with H.M.S. Drake I, Alcantara, Africander I and Raleigh.