Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Chief Petty Officer G. Roach, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (J.6058 G. Roach. L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.6058 G. Roach. P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J.6058 G. Roach. C.P.O., H.M.S. Vivid); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (George Roach, A.B., 23rd Sept. 1915) some edge bruising, fine and better (5) £280-£320

George Roach was born in Devonport on 28 April 1894. A Shipyard Rigger by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in April 1909 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in August 1910. On the battleship Collingwood, he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in April 1911 and to Able Seaman in July 1913. With the onset of war he was serving on the cruiser Doris. He was serving on that vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean when he effected a rescue resulting in the award of the R.H.S. Medal in Bronze:

‘On the 23rd September 1915, a man accidentally fell overboard from a boat in a rough sea at Mudros. Roach at once jumped in from his ship and succeeded in saving him’ (R.H.S. Case No. 42988).

Shortly afterwards, in October 1915 he was advanced to Leading Seaman and thence to Petty Officer in November 1916. Promoted to Chief Petty Officer in December 1924, he was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1927.

With copied record of service.