Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Civil Division’ B.E.M. group of three awarded to Petty Officer G. W. F. Gander, Royal Navy, later Instructor, Air Ministry Boat School

British Empire Medal, (Civil) G.VI.R., 1st issue (George W. Gander) in card box of issue; British War Medal 1914-20 (208165 G. W. F. Gander. P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (208165. G. W. F. Gander. P.O. H.M.S. Hermione.) light contact marks, generally good very fine, the BEM better (3) £180-£220

B.E.M. London Gazette 3 January 1945.

George William Frederick Gander was born in Buckland, Hampshire, on 15 August 1884 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 9 January 1900. Advanced Leading Seaman on 28 July 1911, he served during the Great War in a variety of ships and shore based establishments, most notably the minesweeper H.M.S. Seagull, and was promoted Petty Officer on 1 June 1916. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 5 April 1919, and was shore pensioned on 14 August 1924. He subsequently joined the Royal Fleet Reserve, and served during the Second World War as an Instructor at the Air Ministry Boat School, being awarded a British Empire Medal in the 1945 New Year’s Honours’ List.