Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (3) (J.72369 R. Whittle, L.S. H.M.S. Rodney; K.16727 A.R. Wingate. Sto.1. H.M.S. Furious; M. 34880 W. L. Costa. E.R.A.1. H.M.S. Sandhurst.) light contact marks, generally very fine (3) £120-£160

Robert Whittle was born in Darwin, Lancashire, on 29 April 1898. A professional seaman, he enlisted into the Royal Navy in May 1917 and first served with the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Carnarvon and later transferred to the destroyer H.M.S. Scimitar in April 1918. Following the war he continued his service with ships and shore establishments including the destroyer H.M.S. Spear, the light cruiser H.M.S. Durban, and the battleships H.M.S. Emperor of India, Rodney and Queen Elizabeth. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst part of the crew of H.M.S. Rodney.

Alfred Richard Wingate was born in Stonehouse, Devon, on 12 April 1894. A fisherman by profession, he enlisted into the Royal Navy in November 1912 and first served with the shore establishment H.M.S. Vivid II. In July 1914 he was posted to the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Cumberland shortly before she was sent to West Africa to support the operations in the Cameroons. She captured 10 German merchantmen at Douala on 27 September 1914.
During the remainder of the Great War Wingate served with the destroyer H.M.S. Tigress, the Royal Australian Navy light cruiser H.M.A.S. Sydney and the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Carnarvon. In 1919 he served with the cruiser H.M.S. Fox during her involvement in the North Russian Campaign, and between June and October served aboard the requisitioned Russian paddle steamer H.M.S. Borodino in the operations on the Dvina River. Following this he continued his service with ships such as the fleet repair ship H.M.S. Sandhurst, the battleships H.M.S. Emperor of India and Resolution, and the battlecruiser H.M.S. Hood. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst part of the crew of the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Furious.

William Leslie Costa was born in London on 21 May 1898. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in June 1919 and first served with the shore establishment H.M.S. Pembroke II. Following this, Costa had a long service with the Royal Navy, serving in many ships including the submarine depot ships H.M.S. Titania, Pandora and Cyclops, the destroyers H.M.S. Vesper and Warpole, and the heavy cruiser H.M.S. Hawkins. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst serving with the fleet repair ship H.M.S. Sandhurst. On the outbreak of the Second World War, he was on the crew of the destroyer H.M.S. Duncan.