Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Leading Boatman J. Bale, Royal Navy, later H.M. Coastguard Service

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (J. Bale. A.B. H.M.S. Phœbe.); 1914-15 Star (149615. J. Bale. Lg. Btn., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (149615 J. Bale. L.S. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (149615 James Bale, Boatn. H.M. Coast Guard.) contact marks, generally very fine and better (5) £300-£400

James Bale was born on 29 January 1874, at Tiverton, Devon. He commenced naval service as Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Impregnable, on 26 June 1889. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Calypso, on 29 January 1892 and Able Seaman, H.M.S. Bellerophon, on 7 April 1893. He served in H.M.S. Phoebe from 13 November 1895 to 12 April 1897. He subsequently served in several ships, including, H.M.S. Hood, H.M.S. Thunderer and H.M.S. Melampus. He was appointed to the Coastguard Service as Boatman, 21 December 1901, to serve at Kingstown, Ireland, and at Ballywalter. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1907. He appears to have been appointed Commissioned Boatman, at Ballywalter, in January 1910, but reverted to Leading Boatman by April 1910. He was re-appointed to the Royal Navy as Able Seaman, and then Leading Seaman in H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, during the Great War. He was demobilized with the rank of Leading Boatman, in February 1919.