Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part I)

A Second World War B.E.M. group of nine to Sick Berth Chief Petty Officer R. A. Watson, Royal Navy

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (S.B.C.P.O., C/M. 5188); 1914-15 Star (M.5188 S.B.A., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M. 5188 S.B.S.2, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals; Royal Navy L.S.& G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (M.5188 S.B.P.O., H.M.S. Pembroke), mounted as worn, good very fine and better (9) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to Royal Naval Sick Berth Personnel from the collection of John Hailey.

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B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1946.

Ronald Arthur Watson was born at Raskelf, Yorkshire on 1 September 1893 and enlisted into the Royal Navy on 20 November 1912. Becoming a Sick Berth Attendant on 7 January 1914, he served during the Great War at the Royal Naval Hospital Hong Kong, November 1914-March 1915; the hospital ship Agadir, October 1915-December 1916 and the dreadnaught battleship Hercules, January 1917-March 1919. He attained the rank of Sick Berth Chief Petty Officer in 1934. In the Second World War he served at the Royal Naval Hospital Chatham and aboard H.M.S. Lynx. From May 1943 until the end of the war he served at the Royal Naval Hospital Malta, mostly employed on Wardmaster duties.

Sold with original Certificate of Service and two Sick Berth Ratings History Sheets; a registered envelope addressed to the recipient at R.N.H. Malta; Admiralty letter re. medal entitlement; campaign medals forwarding slip; B.E.M. forwarding slip; several photographs of the recipient and his ships and copied service papers.