Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Stoker First Class J. W. Rean, Royal Navy
1914-15 Star (308688, J. W. Rean, Act. L. Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (308688 J. W. Rean. Sto. 1 R.N.)’ together with an unofficial silver 1911 Coronation Medal, the reverse inscribed ‘Coronation Festivities George V June 22nd 1911, Buenos Aires Sailors Sports’, heavy contact marks to BWM, otherwise very fine, the last scarce

Three: Electrical Artificer Second Class E. McMellon, Royal Navy
1914-15 Star (M.14241, E. Mc. Mellon, Act. E.R.A. 4., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.14241 E. Mc Mellon. E.A. 2 R.N.) good very fine (7) £80-£100

John William Rean was born at Nottingham on 3 August 1887 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class in H.M.S. Nelson on 15 August 1905. He was advanced to Stoker First Class, H.M.S. Prince of Wales, on 18 October 1906, and at the time of the Coronation in 1911 was serving in H.M.S. Glasgow. He was posted to H.M.S. Dolphin in November 1913, and served during the Great War initially in H.M.S. Arrogant, being advanced to Acting Leading Stoker on 16 February 1915. He than served in the submarine depot ship H.M.S. Titania (for service in G 4), being advanced to Stoker First Class on 31 April 1916, and was posted to H.M.S. Cockatrice in July 1916. He was shore demobilised in February 1919.

Edward McMellon was born at Glossop, Derbyshire, on 22 August 1886 and joined the Royal Navy on a hostilities only basis as an Acting Electrical Artificer Fourth Class in H.M.S. Vernon on 13 July 1915. He was confirmed in that rate on 12 July 1916, when serving in H.M.S. St. George, and was advanced to Electrical Artificer Second Class on 31 July 1918. He was shore demobilised from H.M.S. Pembroke II on 3 March 1919.

Sold with a privately made silver wrist identity tag, hallmarks for Birmingham 1917, engraved ‘E. Mc.Mellon No. M14241 Electrical Artificer H.M.S. St. George’; and a gold plated locket, containing to one side a colourised photo of the recipient in uniform.