Three: Able Seaman V. J. Gates, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, late Royal Sussex Regiment

British War and Victory Medals (R.3317 A.B., R.N.V.R.); Silver War Badge (R.N.20016) good very fine (lot) £50-70

Victor John Gates was born on 1 July 1897. He attested for the Royal Sussex Regiment at Chichester on 14 August 1916, aged 18 years, 5 months. Posted to the 1/6th Cycle Battalion he served at home, August 1916-June 1917. Gates was discharged on 17 June 1917 having re-enlisted into the Royal Naval Division Reserve. Ranked as an Able Seaman he was drafted into the Nelson Battalion B.E.F. from the 4th Reserve Battalion at Blandford. In November 1917 he was invalided to England suffering from muscular atrophy of the right lower limb. He was discharged from the R.N.V.R. because of his disability on 14 December 1917 and was subsequently awarded the Silver War Badge.

With Royal Sussex Regiment Permanent Pass Book; Royal Sussex Regiment cap badge; ‘T 6 Royal Sussex meta; shoulder badge; ‘R.N.D.’ and ‘Nelson’ shoulder titles; Royal Sussex Regiment cloth badges (5); together with copied Royal Sussex Regiment and R.N.V.R. service papers and S.W.B. roll extract.