Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Exmouth Training Ship Medal, Britannia standing left, one hand resting on a shield, the other holding a trident, sailing ships in the background; reverse: (name and year engraved), ‘Training Ship Exmouth, Presented to W. J. Walford for Special Good Conduct and Ability 1922’, 32mm., silver, hallmarks obscured, by G.& S.Co. Ltd., swivel ring suspension; Exmouth Training Ship ‘Cæsar Medal’, by W. J. Taylor, London, Cæsar, swimming towards a ship, holding aloft a scroll, enemy soldiers to the left, the Pharos in the background, in exergue: ‘Cæsar Medal’; reverse: inscription in raised letters (name and award details engraved), ‘England expects every man to do his duty, Presented to Arthur Heale on board the Training Ship “Exmouth”, 2nd best Swimmer of the year 1884’, 38mm., silver, swivel ring suspension, very fine and better (2) £50-70

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Prize, Training Ship, Nursing & Other Medals from the James N. Spencer Collection.

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The obverse of the ‘Cæsar Medal’ recalls an incident in the Alexandrian War, 47B.C., when Cæsar was forced to flee from the harbour mole which led to the Pharos and swim for safety to a nearby Roman galley. Having papers in his hand at the time and detirmined that they should not get wet, he held them aloft and swam one-handed to the waiting vessel.