Five: Stoker J. Christmas, H.M.S. Terrible, Royal Navy, later Bedfordshire Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (J. Christmas, Sto. H.M.S. Terrible.); China 1900, no clasp (J. Christmas. Sto. H.M.S. Terrible.); 1914-15 Star (15467 Pte. J. Christmas. Bedf: R.); British War and Victory Medals (15467 Pte. J. Christmas. Bedf. R.) heavy edge bruising and contact marks to first two, these good fine; the Great War awards very fine (5) £400-£500

Joseph Christmas was born in Royston, Hertfordshire, on 29 July 1874, and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class in H.M.S. Victory on 19 September 1895. Promoted Stoker on 2 July 1896, he transferred to H.M.S. Terrible on 24 March 1898, and served in her during both the Boer War and the Boxer Rebellion. Transferring to H.M.S. Racer on 25 August 1903, he was invalided out of the Service on 4 May 1905.

Following the outbreak of the Great War, Christmas attested for the Bedfordshire Regiment on 7 September 1914, and served with the 8th Battalion on the Western Front from 30 August 1915. He was discharged on 7 January 1919, and was awarded a Silver War Badge.

Sold with copied Medal Index Card, medal roll extracts, and copied Royal Navy record of service.