Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Able Seaman H. Taafe, Royal Navy
British War and Victory Medals (226857 H. Taafe. A.B. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (226857 Harry Taaffe [sic], A.B. H.M.S. Cleopatra.) BMW partially officially re-impressed, very fine

1914-15 Star (231950, H. Taafe, Sig., R.N.) very fine (4) £60-£80

226857 Harry Taafe was born on 23 July 1887 at Handsworth, Staffordshire. He commenced naval service as Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Impregnable, on 9 July 1903, but was then posted to H.M.S. Boscawen III. He subsequently served in several ships, including H.M.S. Goliath, H.M.S. Victory, H.M.S. Terrible, and H.M.S. Renown. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Goliath in 1905 and Able Seaman in 1906. During the Great War he served in H.M.S. Erin, H.M.S. Victory, H.M.S. Hecla, H.M.S. Chelmer, H.M.S. Blenheim, H.M.S. Europa and H.M.S. Cleopatra. His medals for service in the Great War were sent to him at H.M.S. Vernon. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1920. He was pensioned in 1922, on a reduced pension on reduction of the fleet. He re-joined the service as pensioned Able Seaman, joining H.M.S. Victory I on on 31 August 1939, and was then posted to H.M.S. Forward. He was released from the service on 14 August 1945, and died in 1953.

231950 Henry Taafe was born on 10 August 1888, at Bootle, Lancashire. He commenced naval service as Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Emerald, on 16 August 1904. He attained the rate of Signalman, on 1 April 1904. He subsequently served in several ships including, H.M.S. Trafalgar, H.M.S. Cornwallis, H.M.S. Queen, H.M.S. Hebe, and H.M.S. Shearwater. During the Great War he is also noted as serving in the ‘Q’ Ship Q16, also known as H.M.S. Heather, H.M.S. Algerine, H.M.S. Nerissa, H.M.S. Leonidas and H.M.S. Forester. He was appointed Leading Signaller, H.M.S. Probe, on 1 January 1915, and was demobilized on 15 February 1919.

Note: Although mere speculation, as the medals for Great War service for both men appear on the same page of the medal rolls, it is possible that there was a mix up when the medals were named and issued, with the 1914-15 Star to 231950 Henry Taafe being sent to 226857 Harry Taafe in error. There is no indication that the men were in any way related.