Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Leading Telegrapher O. E. Akehurst, Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Reserve

British War and Victory Medals (J.574441 O. E. Akehurst. O.Tel. R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (J.57441 (P.O. B. 185260 O. E. Akehurst. L.Tel. R.F.R.) light polishing and a couple of minor edge bruises to the first two, nearly very fine (3) £60-£80

Otto Edward Akehurst was born on 27 January 1901, at Peckham, London. He commenced naval service as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Powerful, on 19 August 1916. He was appointed Boy Telegrapher, H.M.S. Ganges on 30 January 1917, and Ordinary Telegrapher, H.M.S. Shannon, on 19 August 1918. He was subsequently appointed to be Telegrapher, H.M.S. Victory I, on 2 June 1919. He then served in several ships including, H.M.S. Cormorant (Odin), H.M.S. Iron Duke, H.M.S. King George V, H.M.S. Dublin, and H.M.S. Lowestoft, being appointed Leading Telegrapher, on 11 November 1925. He was discharged to shore on the expiration of his period of service, on 26 January 1931, and subsequently joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 3 March 1933. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1936, and was recalled for war service in August 1939, serving in H.M.S. Victory I, H.M.S. Fervent (Lormont) and H.M.S. Beaver (Lormont). He was released from service in H.M.S. Beaver, in October 1945. He is also entitled to the Africa General Service Medal with clasp for Somaliland 1920, when serving in H.M.S. Odin.

Note: H.M.S. Lormont assisted in the evacuation from Dunkirk, but was sunk on 7 December 1940, following a collision with the trawler H.M.S. Cortina, at the mouth of the river Humber.