Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Leading Telegrapher H. J. Wakefield, Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Reserve

British War and Victory Medals (J.52455 H. J. Wakefield. Tel. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (J.52455 (Dev.B.14311) H. J. Wakefield. L.Tel. R.F.R.) contact marks and edge bruising to the Great War awards, these nearly very fine, the rest better (8) £70-£90

Harold Joseph Wakefield was born on 2 November 1899, at Birmingham, Warwickshire. He commenced naval service as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Powerful, on 26 April 1916, and was appointed Boy Telegrapher, H.M.S. Ganges on 20 September 1920. He was advanced to Ordinary Telegrapher, H.M.S. Blake, on 29 May 1917, and was posted to H.M.S. Warspite, on 26 August 1917. He then served in H.M.S. Woolwich (Ursula), and H.M.S. Champion, and was advanced to Telegrapher on 15 June 1918, and Leading Telegrapher in April 1923. He was loaned to the Royal Australian Navy for two years from 9 April 1924. He was discharged to shore his period of service having expired, on 1 November 1929 and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 2 November 1929, being awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in November 1933. He was recalled for war service in August 1939, serving in H.M.S. Drake, H.M.S. Cochrane II (Stork) and H.M.S. Eaglet. He was discharged, invalided, Permanently Unfit for Naval Service (P.U.N.S.) on 21 September 1945.