Sea Gallantry Medal, G.V.R., bronze (James Cheetham, “Delhi” 13 Dec. 1911) edge bruising, fine £300-350

James Cheetham was born in St. Helens, Lancashire on 16 December 1887. Formerly employed as a Glass Blower’s Labourer, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on Boscawen III in April 1905. Promoted to Boy 1st Class in July 1905 and to Signalman in December 1905. As a Signalman aboard the armoured cruiser Duke of Edinburgh in December 1911 he took part in the rescue operations when the P. & O, liner S.S. Delhi ran aground near Cape Spartel, Morocco. Amongst the passengers were the Duke and Duchess of Fife (The Princess Royal) and their two daughters which only gave further urgency to a grave situation. He was one of four men of which Admiral Cradock (of ‘Coronel’ fame) said, ‘For five days without intermission these (4) men did their duty in an untiring manner. We should have been helpless without them’. For his services he was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal in bronze. Cheetham was advanced to Leading Signalman in July 1913 when on Hindustan. During the Great War he served on the battleships King Edward VII, June-August 1915 and Dominion, August 1915-December 1916. His papers then record ‘Run’. Being apprehended, he was imprisoned, March-June 1917, before being posted to Cardiff with the reduced rank of Signalman. He was again advanced to Leading Signalman aboard the Cardiff in November 1917. Cheetham was demobilised on 28 February 1919.

With copied service paper, roll extracts and other research.