Auction Catalogue

23 June 2021

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 267

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23 June 2021

Hammer Price:
£440

Family group:

Seven:
Lieutenant V. H. Mederson, Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve, a veteran of the Great War, who went on to serve as a Petty Officer Telegraphist at Fort St. Angelo, Malta during the Second War
British War and Victory Medals (L.Z6726 V. H. Mederson. Sig. R.N.V.R.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (512 V. H. Mederson. P.O. Tel. R.N.V.(W.)R.); with Second War enclosure slip and R.N.V.W.R. lapel badge, nearly extremely fine, scarce

Imperial Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Nathaniel William Mederson.) in case of issue, with Home Office, Whitehall, transmittal slip, addressed to recipient and dated, 27 October 1927, good very fine (8) £240-£280

Victor Harold Mederson was born in Southwick, Sussex in April 1899. He was the son of N. W. Mederson, and joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve as an Ordinary Seaman in June 1917. Mederson served as a Signaller during the Great War with H.M. Ships Apollo and Loyal, and was Shore Demobilised in September 1919.

Mederson served during the Second War with the Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve, and was appointed Warrant Telegraphist in December 1940. His service during the Second War included at H.M.S. Royal Arthur (Training Establishment, Skegness) and at Fort St. Angelo, Malta. Mederson advanced to Temporary Lieutenant in September 1945 (awarded the L.S. & G.C. in October 1946). After the war he resided at 23 Rosslyn Road, Shoreham by Sea, Sussex, and died in Worthing in February 1986.

In 1932 the Admiralty formed the Royal Naval Wireless Auxiliary Reserve. Its members were civilian auxiliary reservists who provided their own equipment, were not provided with any uniform but who were taught Naval Operating procedures. Having no legal foundation, members of the R.N.W.A.R. were told in time of war that they were to hold themselves in readiness for service ashore or afloat but that they were not subject to a general mobilisation.

On 1 January 1939 the R.N.W.A.R. were officially reconstituted as the Wireless Section of the R.N.V.R. and became subject to provisions of that unit and on 5 January 1939 the Admiralty Board created the Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve - composed initially of existing members of the R.N.W.A.R. - the newly constituted Wireless Section of the R.N.V.R.

Although the formation of the R.N.W.A.R. is mentioned in
The Naval Long Service Medals, by Captain Kenneth Douglas-Morris, no mention is made in the chapter dealing with the Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve L.S. & G.C. of any specific medals to the R.N.W.A.R. It was stated that, ‘Since former members of the R.N.W.A.R. were not fully qualified ‘Reservists’ within the meaning of the ‘Naval Forces Act, 1903’, they were unable to count their ‘auxiliary’ time towards the Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.’

The Royal Naval Volunteer (Wireless) Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal was issued up until 1957 when the unit was disbanded, and was awarded for 12 years’ service. Only around 200 were issued.

Nathaniel William Mederson was born in Layham, Suffolk in 1867, and was the father of V. H. Mederson. He served as a Preventive Officer, Waterguard Department, Customs and Excise, in London. Mederson died in Worthing, Sussex in 1953.