Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Leading Telegrapher G. Liquorish, Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Reserve, who was serving in H.M.S. Pessac, when it was sunk by enemy aircraft on 29 April 1941

British War and Victory Medals (J.56349 G. Liquorish. O.Tel. R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (J.56349 (Ch. B. 21218) G. Liquorish. L.Tel. R.F.R.) very fine and better (3) £70-£90

George Liquorish was born on 1 February 1900, at Camberwell, London. He commenced naval service as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Impregnable, on 1 August 1916, and was appointed Boy Telegrapher, H.M.S. Ganges, on 18 January 1917, and Ordinary Telegrapher, H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh, on 1 February 1918. He was advanced to Telegrapher, H.M.S. Pembroke I, on 27 July 1919. He subsequently served in several ships, including H.M.S. Calliope, H.M.S. Columbine (Tenedos), H.M.S. Dunedin, H.M.S. Endeavour, H.M.S. Hecla and H.M.S. Pembroke II (Malcolm). He was appointed Acting Leading Telegrapher, H.M.S. Pembroke II, on 6 August 1929. He was discharged to shore his period of engagement having expired, on 31 January 1930, but joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 1 February 1930, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in January 1935. He was recalled for war service on 27 August 1939, and served in H.M.S. Pembroke I, H.M.S. Mentor, H.M.S. Pessac, H.M.S. Defence, H.M.S. Paris and H.M.S. Lynx. His service record notes that he was serving in H.M. Hospital Ship Maine, in June 1944. He was released from service in September 1945.

Liquorish’s service records indicate that he was serving in H.M.S. Pessac, when it was bombed and sunk by enemy aircraft at Plymouth, on 29 April 1940. The medal rolls are noted that duplicate medals were issued in 1941, his originals possibly having been lost in the sinking of H.M.S. Pessac.