Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Chief Yeoman of Signals F. R. Lawes, Royal Navy

British War and Victory Medals (J.9658 F. R. Lawes. L. Sig. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J.9658 F. R. Lawes. Y.S. H.M.S. Impregnable.) light contact marks, nearly very fine (3) £60-£80

Francis Reginald Lawes was born on 6 September 1893, at Stokenham, Devon. He commenced naval service as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Ganges II, on 21 September 1910. He was appointed Ordinary Signalman, on 6 September 1911; Signalman, H.M.S. King Alfred on 27 September 1912; and Leading Signaller, H.M.S. Endymion, on 13 October 1914. During the Great War he served in H.M.S. Vivid I, H.M.S. Blake (Musketeer), H.M.S. Egmont, H.M.S. Blenheim (Larne) and H.M.S. Northesk, being appointed Yeoman of Signals on 1 November 1918. Following the Great War he saw service in several ships, including H.M.S. Britannia, H.M.S. Diligence (Wren), H.M.S. Sandhurst (Wren), H.M.S. Volunteer, and H.M.S. Hood, being awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1926, and appointed Chief Yeoman of Signals, on 30 March 1927. He was discharged to pension on 5 November 1933. He was recalled for war service on 26 August 1939, but was deemed to be permanently unsuitable for naval service (P.U.N.S.) and released immediately.