Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Electrical Artificer First Class R. A. James, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (347620, R. A. James, E.A.2., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (347620 R. A. James. E.A.2 R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (347620 R. A. James. E.A.1. H.M.S. Blenheim) contact marks, very fine (4) £100-£140

Reginald Albert James was born on 24 September 1885, at Portsea, Hampshire. He commenced naval service as Acting Electrical Artificer Fourth Class in H.M.S. Vernon on 21 January 1907. He subsequently served in several ships including H.M.S. Pembroke II, H.M.S. Tyne, H.M.S. Black Prince, H.M.S. Cressy, and H.M.S. Africa. He was advanced to Electrical Artificer Third Class, H.M.S. Astraea, on 25 July 1913, and to Electrical Artificer Second Class on 9 January 1914. During the Great War he served in H.M.S. Astraea, H.M.S. Pembroke II, H.M.S. Intrepid and H.M.S. Alexander. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in January 1922, and was shore pensioned from H.M.S. Vernon on 20 January 1929. He was recalled for service to H.M.S. Pembroke II in September 1939, and subsequently served in H.M.S. Ganges. He was invalided out of the service from the R.N. Hospital Haslar on 23 August 1944.

James’ service record is annotated with the following commendation, in 1916: ‘Reports the good work carried out and ingenuity displayed by this man in connection with the salving operations on H.M.P.V. Lone, in the Cameroons.’