Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (Surg. Commr. A. J. Wernet, R.N.) extremely fine £60-80

Augustus Joseph Wernet was born on 13 May 1873. He received his medical training at Guy’s Hospital and obtained the qualifications of M.R.C.S. Eng., L.R.C.P. Lond. in 1898; the degree of M.B. Lond. in 1901 and the D.P.H. in 1920. He joined the Medical Branch of the Royal Navy on 11 February 1901 and proceeded to the R.N. Hospital, Haslar, for the initial course of instruction, where he obtained the Gold Medal on the completion of the course. In 1909 he was appointed Staff Surgeon and in 1915 was advanced to Fleet Surgeon Commander. At the start of the war he served aboard the pre-dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Canopus. The ship, sent to strengthen Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock’s cruiser squadron in the South Atlantic/South Pacific, missed the battle of Coronel, 1 November 1914, but fired the opening shot at the battle of Falkland Islands, 8 December 1914. In January 1915 Wernet’s excellent work in organising and making efficient the Naval Hospital on the Falkland Islands was noted at the Admiralty. He later served at Chatham, Bermuda and on H.M.S. Furious. Surgeon Commander Wernet was placed on the Retired List at his own request in August 1922. He died at sea on 25 May 1936 whilst on a Mediterranean cruise. With copied service papers and obituary.