The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Four: 1914-15 Star Trio (R.M.A.11345 Gr. R Vallance); Naval Good Shooting Medal, G.V.R. (11345 Gunr. R. Vallance, R.M.A., H.M.S. Cochrane. 1914. 3 Pr. Q.F.) contact marks, otherwise very fine (4)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

View
Collection

Robert Vallance was born in Mosside, Paisley, Renfrewshire, on 17 September 1885, and was a plumber before enlisting in the Royal Marines as a Private on 1 May 1905. He elected to serve with the Royal Marine Artillery and became a Gunner 2nd Class on 13 December 1905 and advanced to Gunner on 12 March 1906. He served aboard BRITANNIA (October 1906), MAGICIENNE (March 1909), LONDON (February 1910) and COCHRANE (May 1912) serving in this ship until August 1915 at which date he was posted to the Royal Marine Artillery in France. He next went to sea aboard ATTENTIVE II (September 1917), AJAX (December 1919), EMPRESS OF INDIA (October 1921), EGMONT (December 1921), RIVA (August 1922), and AFRIKANDER (March 1923). He transferred to the Plymouth Division on 21 September 1923.

Whilst aboard H.M.S. COCHRANE in 1914 he was awarded the Naval Good Shooting Medal for accuracy with the 3-pdr quick firing gun. A number of character ratings of ‘indifferent’, ‘fair’ and ‘good debarred him from receiving his L.S. & G.C. medal. He was granted a Hurt Certificate whilst serving in COCHRANE in 1905 as a result of an injury which resulted in a hernia.