Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Chief Petty Officer E. H. Potter, Royal Navy

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (E. H. Potter, P.O. 1st Cl: H.M.S. Sybille); British War and Victory Medals (133575 E. H. Potter. C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (E. H. Potter, P.O. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Vernon.) first and last awards nearly very fine, remainder very fine or better (4) £200-£240

Ernest Harold Potter was born in Marylebone, Middlesex in 1870. He joined the Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class in June 1886. He advanced to Able Seaman in December 1888, and to Petty Officer 1st Class in December 1896. Subsequent service included in H.M.S. Sybille, from October 1900 (awarded L.S. & G.C. in October 1903). The latter ship was wrecked in Lambert’s Bay on 16 January 1901, thereby becoming the Royal Navy’s only ship to be lost during the Boer War. Potter advanced to Chief Petty Officer in 1907, and service during the Great War included in H.M.S. Amphitrite (minelayer) in 1917. He was demobilised in January 1920.