Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

Militia L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (167 Cpl. W. Mew. Plymouth Div: (S.M.) R.E.M.) good very fine, rare to unit £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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One of only 4 Militia Long Service Medals awarded to the Plymouth Division (Submarine Miners), Royal Engineers Militia.

William Mew was awarded his Militia Long Service Medal per Army Order 34 of February 1907.

The Plymouth Division Royal Engineers (Militia) Submarine Miners were part of the Royal Engineers' Submarine Mining Service, which was established to defend Britain's dockyards. The division was part of the Southern Division Submarine Mining Militia, which was formed in 1883 and expanded to include four companies stationed at Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Chatham dockyards. By 1892, these divisions had expanded to cover the main naval dockyards in the United Kingdom. The service was responsible for the defence of the dockyards using fixed mines and later electric searchlights. After the submarine mining branch was abolished in 1907, the Regular units were converted into Fortress Companies, and the Militia units disbanded.