Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Chief Stoker W. T. Wills, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (K.481, W. T. Wills, L.Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K.481 W. T. Wills S.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (K.481 W. T. Wills. S.P.O. H.M.S. Caradoc.); together with a Church Lads Brigade Cross, bronze, with suspension bar and clasp dated 1909, unnamed as issued, contact marks and light edge bruising, nearly very fine (5) £100-£140

William Thomas Wills was born on 1 November 1899, at Strete, Devon, and commenced naval service on 16 March 1908, as a Stoker Second Class in H.M.S. Vivid II. He was appointed Acting Leading Stoker, H.M.S. Vivid II, on 27 December 1913, and Leading Stoker, H.M.S. St. George, 20 December 1914. Appointed Stoker Petty Officer, H.M.S. Victory II, on 1 March 1917, he appears to have spent much of his naval service in patrol boats or torpedo boats, and was paid a war gratuity to H.M.S. Apollo. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal in April 1923. Promoted Chief Stoker in August 1929, he was shore pensioned from H.M.S. Vivid on 15 March 1930. He was recalled for service in H.M.S. Drake II, on 25 August 1939, and served on Boom Defence vessels during the Second World War, in H.M.S. Cochrane and H.M.S. Proserpine. He was released from service in November 1944.