Orders, Decorations and Medals

China 1900, no clasp (165629 W. Austen, A.B., H.M.S. Waterwitch) good very fine £100-140

Walter Austen was born in Ramsgate, Kent on 1 May 1876. Employed as a Confectioner’s Assistant, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 27 February 1892, being advanced to 1st Class in May 1893. Promoted to Ordinary Seaman in May 1894 and Able Seaman in October 1894. Served on H.M.S. Waterwitch, February 1900-May 1903. During the Great War he served on Cormorant, Victory, Hecla, Attentive and Renown. Demobilised on 23 June 1919. With copied service papers.

Note: The published roll records that Austen had two duplicate medals issued,