Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An impressive collection of Naval medals and memorabilia from three generations of the Jeffery family

Four: Captain of the Forecastle R. Jeffery, Royal Navy, wounded at Gate Pa, 22 April 1864

Baltic 1854-55 (Rd. Jeffery, H.M.S. Tyne) engraved naming, with silver brooch bar; China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Canton 1857, Taku Forts 1860 (Rd. Jeffery, H.M.S. Algerine) engraved naming, with silver brooch bar; New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated ‘1863 to 1864’ (R. Jeffery, A.B., H.M.S. Esk) officially impressed naming, with ornate silver brooch bar; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (Richd. Jeffery, Capt. F Castle S.G. H.M.S. Hercules 20 Yrs.) engraved naming, some contact marks

Pair: Warrant Victualling Officer T. W. Jeffery, Royal Navy

British War and Victory Medals (Wt. V.O., R.N.)

Six: Ordnance Artificer 1st Class A. D. Jeffery, Royal Navy, who served on H.M.S. Exeter at the battle of the River Plate

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; Burma Star, clasp, Pacific; War Medal 1939-45, with two M.I.D. oak leaf emblems on ribbon, these unnamed; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue (M.39466 O.A.2, H.M.S. Kenya) mounted as worn, very fine and better (lot) £2000-2500

Richard Jeffery was born in Brompton, Devon on 11 February 1832. He originally volunteered for 10 years continuous and general service in the Royal Navy on 10 April 1852. As an Able Seaman he served on the Tyne, April 1853-July 1857, seeing service in the Baltic during the conflict with Russia, and on the Algerine, March 1857-December 1861, seeing service in the China War of 1857-60. After service on the Acteon, January-June 1862 and Excellent, June 1862-May 1863, he was posted for service on the Esk, May 1863-October 1867, during which time he saw active service with the Naval Brigade during the Maori Wars, being slightly wounded in the action at Gate Pa, 22 April 1864. After service on the Excellent, October 1867-October 1868, he was posted to the Hercules with the rating of Captain of the Forecastle, November 1868-August 1872. Jeffery was then posted to the Asia as an Able Seaman until his release from service in February 1891.

Medals to Richard Jeffery with original parchment Certificates of Service (2); other copied service papers; research re Gate Pa and seven associated photographs, including one of Richard Jeffery in Malta during 1902.




Thomas William Jeffery was born in Portsea on 9 September 1877, the son of Richard and Susan Jeffery. Thomas William was educated at the Greenwich Hospital School and then followed his father to the sea, volunteering for the Royal Navy on 5 September 1892 as a Ship’s Steward Boy. He was rated as Ship’s Steward Assistant in September 1895 when on Katooba and Ship’s Steward in February 1900 when on Cambridge. His next ship was the Phoenix, February 1900-May 1903, during which time he saw active service in the China War of 1900, for which he was awarded the China Medal without clasp (not with lot). At the same rating he served in the early years of the Great War, firstly on Victory, April 1914-October 1917 and then on Hyacinth, October-November 1917. In November 1917 he was promoted to Acting Warrant Steward and on 9 November 1918 he was appointed Warrant Victualling Officer.

Medals to Thomas William Jeffery with original school certificate; parchment Certificate of Service; Warrant of appointment to W.V.O.; Certificates of Qualification (2) as Ship’s Steward Assistant and Ship’s Steward; Certificate For Ship’s Steward (6); Admiralty Appointment papers (5); Certificates of Service as Victualling Officer (7); Handbook of Naval Cookery 1914; together with a quantity of associated photographs.






Arthur Dane Jeffery was born in Portsmouth, Devon on 14 November 1909, the son of Thomas William Jeffery. Following the steps of his father and grandfather he joined the Royal Navy on 3 August 1925 being rated as an Ordnance Artificer Apprentice on Fisguard. He was rated at an O.A. 5th Class when at Pembroke in January 1930; Acting 4th Class in January 1931 when on Norfolk; O.A. 4th Class in January 1932 and O.A. 3rd Class in January 1934, both whilst on Devonshire. As such he was posted to the heavy cruiser H.M.S. Exeter in December 1936 and was advanced to Ordnance Artificer 2nd Class in January 1938. He was serving aboard the ship on 13 December 1939, when, in company with the cruisers Ajax and Achilles, they encountered the German ‘pocket battleship’ Graf Spee. In the epic action that followed off the River Plate, the larger German battlecruiser was harried by its three smaller opponents and suffering damage was obliged to make for the port of Montevideo. Rather than renew the action, Captain Langsdorff scuttled the Graf Spee on 17 December 1939. The Exeter, having the largest calibre guns of the cruiser squadron was naturally the Graf Spee’s primary target and suffered 61 killed and 23 wounded in the action. Leaving the Exeter in February 1940, he then served on the cruiser Kenya, June 1940-June 1942 and again, September 1942-January 1946, being promoted to O.A. 1st Class in January 1943. For his wartime services aboard the cruiser H.M.S. Kenya, Jeffery was twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1945 and 14 June 1945). Jeffery was pensioned from the Navy on 22 November 1948 being physically unfit for further service.

Medals to Arthur Dane Jeffery with original Certificate of Service; Ordnance Artificer’s History Sheet; M.I.D. Certificates (2); medal forwarding slip; Luncheon Menus (2) given in honour of the officers and men of the Ajax and Exeter; technical drawing kit in leather case with silver plate inscribed, ‘A. D. Jeffery, 434’; silver bowl, 82mm., dia., hallmarks for London 1939, inscribed, ‘A.D.J. H.M.S. Exeter December ‘36 February ‘40’; telegram announcing ‘All leave cancelled’ on the outbreak of war; telegram from his parents to Jeffery in Montevideo, 6 January 1940; a number of personal letters, many to Miss Beryl Gray (below); Royal Navy group photographs (2) mounted on card, the reverse signed by those featured; a number of other photographs of ships and personnel, including a portrait photo of the recipient in frame; the book, The Fleet’s In!, by Russell Holman; booklet, H.M.S. Kenya 1940-1945; H.M.S. Kenya ‘Certificate for Crossing the Equator (damaged), in tube addressed to Thomas W. Jeffery.



Together with identity disks (2) ‘2141753 C. E. Gray’ with papers relating to Airwoman Beryl Dinah Gray, including: R.A.F. Airman’s Service and Pay Book; R.A.F. Release Book; letter of thanks for her war service from the British Embassy, Buenos Aires, 13 May 1947; Prayer Book; letters of recommendation; her Argentinian passport; Co-op Share Pass Book; photograph of Airwoman Gray in uniform; other photographs.



Also sold with two photograph albums containing family photographs and an autograph book with numerous entries.