Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, impressed naming (Chas. Heskett, Ch. Sto., H.M.S. Medusa.) a few scratches and small pawnbroker’s mark in obverse field, otherwise good very fine £100-£140

Charles Heskett was born on 14 January 1866, at Monkwearmouth, Durham, and joined the Navy on 8 May 1885, aged 19 years 3 months, as a Stoker 2nd class having been a riveter. He advanced to Stoker on 13 October 1885 and, on 1 September 1887, signed on for a 12 year engagement. He advanced to Leading Stoker on 26 February 1890, to Leading Stoker 1st class on 1 April 1893, and to Chief Stoker on 2 October 1895, the rate he was to remain in for the rest of his career. On 14 September 1899, he re-engaged to ‘complete’ for pension. He was ‘traced' for medal on 5 September 1900, and was discharged to pension on 12 May 1909. He rejoined on 2 August 1914, but was again discharged to shore ‘not required’ on 19 October 1914. Nevertheless he rejoined on 30 June 1915 and served until demobilised on 25 February 1919, aged 53. The record is indistinct but it seems that he may have been lent to the R.A.F. from 1 April 1918.

Sold with copied record of service.