Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (3) (K.60937 W. G. Birks. S.P.O. H.M.S. Hermes.; J,29838 W. W. Akers. A.B. H.M.S. Stuart.; J,40375 R. L. Goddard. L.S. H.M.S. Sandwich.) light contact marks, generally very fine (3) £100-£140

William Charles Birks was born in Lambeth, London on 9 July 1899. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in May 1918 and first served with the shore establishment H.M.S. Vivid II. In August 1918 he was transferred to H.M.S. Gunner, remaining there until March 1919. Following the end of the Great War he served with several ships and shore establishments including the minesweeper H.M.S. Derby, H.M.S. Lucia, a captured German merchant ship which had been converted to a submarine tender, the battleships H.M.S. Valiant and Warspite, and the destroyer H.M.S. Wolverine. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst on the crew of the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Hermes. On the outbreak of the Second World War, Birks was serving with the battleship H.M.S. Rodney.

William Walter Akers was born in Tottenham, Middlesex on 15 December 1898. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in February 1914 as a Boy Second Class and first served with the training ship H.M.S. Powerful. During the Great War he served with the dreadnought battleships H.M.S. Agincourt and Bellerophon, and was part of the crew of the latter during her involvement in the Battle of Jutland. Following the war he continued his service with several ships and shore establishments including the depot ship H.M.S. Maidstone, the dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Temeraire and the destroyer H.M.S. Conquest. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst serving with the flotilla leader H.M.S. Stuart. Akers served throughout the duration of the Second World War in various shore establishments including H.M.S. Victory, Excellent and Daedalus.

Reginald Louis Goddard was born in Alton, Hampshire on 8 September 1899. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in February 1914 as a Boy Second Class and first served with the training establishment H.M.S. Impregnable. During the Great War he served with several ships and shore establishments including the cruiser H.M.S. Isis and the armed merchant cruiser H.M.S. Patuca. Following the war he continued his service with ships such as the light cruiser H.M.S. Cardiff, the dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Iron Duke and several destroyers including H.M.S. Umpire, Undine and Trenchant. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst serving with the sloop H.M.S. Sandwich. During the Second World War, he first served with the destroyer H.M.S. Kashmir and was part of her crew on 29 November 1939, when along with the other destroyers Kingston and Icarus, Kashmir attacked the German submarine U-35 in the North Sea forcing the U-boat to scuttle. In October 1940 he was transferred to the battleship H.M.S. King George V.