Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: A.M. 1 W. Payne, Royal Navy, who served as a member of crew in rigid airships

1914-15 Star (J. 26055 W. Payne, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J. 26055 W. Payne, A.M.1, R.N.), obverse surface damage to the last and polished overall, otherwise good fine (3) £80-100

William Payne was born in Islington, London, in January 1897, and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in July 1913. On the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was serving aboard the battleship H.M.S. Albermarle, but he came ashore as an Able Seaman in October 1915, when he attended the gunnery establishment Excellent. As confirmed by his service record, however, he was ‘selected for service in rigid airships’ in August 1916, and attended training courses at Wormwood Scrubs and Crystal Palace, before joining R.N.A.S. Eastchurch in January 1917, and R.N.A.S. Kingsnorth in May 1917, at which latter station he was still serving as an A.M. 1 at the time of being transferred to the newly established Royal Air Force in April 1918; sold with copied service record.