Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria including the collection to Naval Artificers formed by JH Deacon

Seven: Mechanician J. W. Latham, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (K.8313 L. Sto., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (S.P.O., R.N.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1920 (Sto. P.O., H.M.S. Ark Royal); Defence & War Medals; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (Mech., H.M.S. Watchful) polished, otherwise good fine and better (7) £200-250

144 clasps for Somaliland 1920 to the sea plane carrier Ark Royal.

John Wheeler Latham was born at Deptford, London, on 10 February 1892, and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 30 August 1910. He served during the Great War aboard H.M.S. Beagle and latterly Cygnet, which ship he joined in November 1917. He served aboard the Ark Royal from February 1919 until November 1920, during which period he took part in the operations in Somaliland. Technically he had not completed 15 years pensionable service to qualify for his L.S. & G.C. medal but, in an accompanying letter from the Ministry of Defence to the area secretary of S.S.A.F.A., claiming on Latham’s behalf in 1966, it states “As a special concession, however, his 1939-45 War Service has been allowed to count towards the award of the Medal only. This has been put in hand for engraving (sic) and will be sent to you as soon as it is ready.”