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

Seven: Leading Signaller C. D. Syer, Royal Navy, who was mentioned in despatches for services in the armed merchant cruiser Ausonia in 1940

British War Medal 1914-20 (J. 91642 Boy 2, R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R. (Charles David Syer); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S., G.V.R., 2nd issue, coinage bust (J. 91642 (Ch. B. 22083) L. Sig., R.F.R.) the first with slack suspension rod and claw, the last officially corrected, otherwise good very fine (7) £180-220

Charles David Syer was born in Highgate, London in September 1901 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class at the training establishment Impregnable in August 1918, thereby just qualifying for a single British War Medal. Appointed an Ordinary Signaller in September 1919, he went on to serve in a variety of ships between the Wars, the destroyer Verity and the aircraft carrier Ark Royal among them.

Seedie’s roll confirms his subsequent “mention” as an award for services in the armed merchant cruiser Ausonia, a Cunarder that was requisitioned by the Admiralty for duties with the Halifax, Nova Scotia convoy escort force in the North Atlantic (London Gazette 1 July 1941).

Sold with the recipient’s original M.I.D. certificate, and Admiralty equivalent; a wartime portrait photograph; I.S.M. forwarding letter, dated 1 October 1963 (an award for services as an Assistant Warehouse Supervisor at H.M.S.O.); two enamelled H.M.S. P. 12 badges with pendant ribands and two named R.A.O.B. awards.