Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An Order of St. John group of four awarded to Sick Berth Attendant H. Hacking, Royal Navy

The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Serving Brother’s breast badge, 3rd ‘skeletal’ type, silver; British War Medal 1914-20 (M.25986 H. Hacking. S.B.A. R.N.); Defence Medal; Service Medal of the Order of St John, with Six Additional Award Bars (9282 Cpl. H. Hacking Blackpool Div. No. 4 Dist. S.J.A.B 1931.) generally very fine and better (4) £140-£180

Herbert Hacking was born at Blackpool, Lancashire, on 26 June 1897 and joined the Royal Navy as a Sick Berth Attendant on 1 May 1917. He served during the Great War at Haslar Royal Naval Hospital from 9 May to 11 October 1917; Portland Royal Naval Hospital from 12 October 1917 to 1 March 1918; and then back at Haslar Royal Naval Hospital from 2 March 1918 until he was shore demobilised on 12 March 1919 (having never served afloat he was not entitled to a Victory Medal).

Hacking subsequently served with the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Blackpool, and was created a Serving Brother of the Order of St. John in 1946 (London Gazette 28 June 1946). His Service Medal with six additional award bars represents 45 years’ service.

Sold with copied R.N. Record of Service and a photographic image of the recipient being presented with a S.J.A.B. Certificate.