Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Stoker First Class W. S. Rittey, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (K.13169, W. S. Rittey, Sto., 1. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.13169 W. S. Rittey, Sto. 1 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension, (K.13169 W. S. Rittey, Sto. 1 H.M.S. Champion), mounted as worn, polished, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine (4) £100-£140

William Stevens Rittey was born on 11 October 1893 at Portsmouth, Hampshire. He commenced naval service on 10 November 1911, as Stoker Second Class in H.M.S. Victory II, and was advanced to Stoker First Class, H.M.S. Revenge in February 1913. During the Great War he served in the Acasta Class Destroyer H.M.S. Paragon, and H.M.S. Sabre. He was awarded a war gratuity for service in H.M.S. Diligence (Searcher), and was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in 1926. He entered the Merchant Navy for a period commencing in 1935, but is noted as rejoining the Royal Navy in November 1935 as a pensioned Stoker First Class. He died at Portsmouth in 1963.