Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce ‘Baltic 1919’ M.S.M. group of five awarded to Chief Blacksmith W. J. C. Coleman, Royal Navy, a veteran of the Battle of the Falklands, 8 December 1914, he went on to serve during the blockade of the Königsberg in the Rufiji River in East Africa in April 1915 and during operations in the Dardanelles

1914-15 Star (346033 J. C. Coleman. Blk. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (346033 W. J. C. Coleman. Blk.1. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (346033. W. J C. Coleman, Blksth. H.M.S. Curlew.); Royal Naval Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (346033. W. J. C. Coleman. Blksmth. “Delhi” Baltic 1919.) mounted for display, lacquered, contact marks, nearly very fine (5) £500-£700

Provenance: Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996.

M.S.M. London Gazette 8 March 1920.

The following details are taken from Admiralty recommendations for honours: ‘Meritorious service in connection with repairs to Fleet Auxiliaries, construction of seaplane base and aerodrome at Biviko during the period July to December 1919.’

William James Clarence Coleman was born in Falmouth in December 1883. A Blacksmith by trade in civilian life, he continued his career when joining the Royal Navy on 14 April 1903, being ranked as a Blacksmith’s Mate. Coleman served with the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Cornwall, January 1914 - March 1917 and was promoted to Blacksmith in August 1914. He was serving in Cornwall at the Battle of the Falklands on 8 December 1914, when his ship sank the German light cruiser Leipzig - after suffering 18 hits herself.

Coleman was later present for the blockade of the German light cruiser Königsberg in the Rufiji River in East Africa in April 1915, and he went on to see service in the Dardanelles from May 1915, and then in the Far East from the end of that year. After a period ashore based at Vivid II, his next seagoing appointment was on the light cruiser H.M.S. Curlew, January 1918 - May 1919, during which time he was awarded the long service medal. Coleman then served on the light cruiser H.M.S. Delhi, May 1919 - June 1921, taking part in the British campaign in the Baltic against Bolshevik forces. For his services in the campaign Coleman was awarded the Royal Navy M.S.M. He was promoted to Chief Blacksmith in April 1924 and was pensioned ashore on 15 April 1925.