Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Chief Petty Officer W. Tett, Royal Navy
1914-15 Star (180404, W. Tett, P.O. 1., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (180404 W. Tett. C.P.O. R.N.) nearly extremely fine (3) £70-£90

Walter Tett was born on 4 January 1877 at Portland, the son of Seaman Abraham Tett and his wife Kate. He commenced naval service as Boy 2 Class, H.M.S. Northampton, on 28 July 1894. He was advanced to Boy 1 Class, 28 October 1894, and to Ordinary Seaman, H.M.S. Cambrian, on 23 January 1895. He was advanced to Able Seaman, H.M.S. Raleigh, on 17 September 1898, to Leading Seaman, H.M.S. Mercury, on 23 October 1903, and thereafter, rapidly, Petty Officer 2nd Class on 18 January 1904. A year later he was advanced to Petty Officer 1st Class. He had qualified as a Seaman Gunner 2nd Class on 10 February 1899 and as a Seaman Gunner on 1 September 1901. He qualified as a Petty Officer (Gunner) on 17 September 1909. He received his 1st Good Conduct Badge on 17 September 1898, and his 2nd on 22 January 1903, but he was deprived of this on 30 April 1904. It was restored six months later, on 30 October 1904, but it meant that his character at the end of 1904 was reduced to `Good'. There is no trace on his record of service of his receiving a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, possibly as a result of the offence which cost him his 2nd Good Conduct Badge. He was advanced to Acting Chief Petty Officer on 1 Mar 1916, and confirmed in the rate a year later on 1 March 1917. He remained in service until 1 May 1919, when he was demobilized from H.M.S. Victory I.

For the medals awarded to the recipient’s father, see Lot 88.