Orders, Decorations and Medals

A scarce O.B.E. Medal group of three awarded to J.H. Gravener, Chief Officer, Ealing Fire Brigade, late Petty Officer, Royal Navy

ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL 1917-22 (Civil) in its John Pinches case of issue; EGYPT 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Lg. Sean. H.M.S. Salamis); KHEDIVE'S STAR 1882, together with the 1914-15 Star trio awarded to his son (58341 Pte. J.H. Gravener, R.A.M.C.) the Egypt medal with usual pitting, nearly very fine, the remainder good very fine (6)

Medal of the O.B.E., London Gazette, 7 July, 1920. 'For conspicuous courage and devotion to duty on the occasion of a fire at a munitions factory.'

J.H. Gravener was born at Dover in 1856, and on leaving school was apprenticed to a boilermaker. Subsequently he joined the Royal Navy and rose to the rank of 1st class Petty Officer. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1878-9, he served on H.M.S. Temeraire, and was with the British fleet which forced the Dardanelles. In 1881 he was again on active service being attached to H.M.S. Salamis during the Egyptian campaign (88 medals to the ship). At the conclusion of the campaign he was appointed coxwain to H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught during his stay at Alexandria. On leaving the Navy in 1882, he joined the London Fire Brigade and began his distinguished career in the Fire Service. In July 1896 he was selected for the position of Chief Officer of the Ealing Fire Brigade, a position which he held until his retirement on 31 December 1925. Sold with P.R.O. copies of the recommendation for the award of the Medal of the O.B.E., and obituary from the Middlesex County Times for May 1932.