Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sick Berth Chief Petty Officer J. Fitzgerald, Royal Navy

British War and Victory Medals (M. 18535 J. Fitzgerald. S.B.A. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (M. 18535 J. Fitzgerald. L.S.B.A. H.M.S. Vivid.) contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £60-£80

John Fitzgerald was born at Bamber Bridge, Lancashire in March 1896 and enlisted into the Royal Navy in January 1916 as a Probationary Sick Birth Attendant. During the Great War he served at Plymouth Naval Hospital and aboard the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Cumberland and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in January 1931, while serving at Plymouth Hospital, on the books of H.M.S. Vivid, and having attained the rate of Leading Sick Berth Attendant. He was put to shore with a pension in January 1938 and recalled in September 1939 with the rate of Sick Berth Chief Petty Officer. He saw service during the Second World War at the Royal Naval Auxiliary Hospital, Barrow Gurney.