Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Chief Engine Room Artificer W. J. Hexham, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (271557, W. J. Hexham, E.R.A. 2., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (271557 W. J. Hexham, C.E.R.A. 2, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st type (271557 W. J. Hexham, C.E.R.A. 2Cl., H.M.S. Vulcan); Royal Navy Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st type (271557 W. J. Hexham, C.E.R.A. 2Cl., “Vulcan”) contact marks, therefore very fine (5) £300-£400

Provenance: Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, 12 February 1997

M.S.M. London Gazette 1 April 1919

William John Hexham was born in Whitehaven, Cumberland, on 26 September 1881, entering naval service on 26 April 1904, in H.M.S. Vivid. By 1914, he was an Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class serving in H.M.S. Vulcan, in which he remained until January 1920, having been promoted to C.E.R.A. 2nd Class. H.M.S. Vulcan, a cruiser of 6,600 tons, was later converted to a Depot ship for 2nd Class Torpedo Boats 1914-1916 and served as a submarine flotilla repair ship at Humber, Berehaven and Blyth 1916-1918. Hexham was pensioned to shore on 19 April 1926, having been awarded his L.S. & G.C. on 30 April 1919, but later applied, unsuccessfully, to re-enter the Navy in 1936.