Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Sick Berth Petty Officer A. Bennison, Royal Navy, who served with the British Naval Mission to Serbia 1915-16

1914-15 Star (M.4003, A. Bennison, S.B.A., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (M.4003 A. Bennison. 2 S.B.S., R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (M.4003 A. Bennison. S.B.P.O. H.M.S. Revenge); Serbia, Kingdom, Medal for Zeal, silvered bronze, most silvering lost from obverse; Medal for the Retreat from Albania 1915, bronze, mounted as worn, some edge bruising, fine or better and a rare group (8) £1,000-£1,400

Fevyer Collection, Spink, November 1998; Dix Noonan Webb, May 2011.

Alan Bennison was born in Dulwich, London on 13 January 1894. A Mechanic by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy on 22 January 1912 as a Provisional Sick Berth Attendant. He was confirmed at that rank in October 1912 when based at Haslar Hospital. During the war he served at Malta Hospital, June 1914-February 1915; Egmont (Malta), February 1915-February 1916; from Malta Bennison was sent out with the British Naval Mission to Serbia under Rear-Admiral Troubridge in 1915. It consisted of a torpedo and mining party and eight 4.7” guns. Each gun had 3 seaman gunners in the crew to train the Serbians. The unit also had a picket boat which was used to attack Austrian Monitors. Peter Singlehurst records that the crew of the picket boat all received Serbian awards (OMRS Journal 2000 p60 refers).

He returned to Haslar Hospital, February 1916-November 1917; and the repair ship Assistance, November 1917-September 1920, being advanced to 2nd Class Sick Berth Steward in January 1918 and Leading Sick Berth Attendant in August 1920. For his services during the defence of Belgrade he was awarded the Serbian Medal for Zeal in silver. He was promoted to Sick Berth Petty Officer whilst on the battleship Revenge in October 1924 and was awarded the Long Service Medal whilst on the same vessel in 1927.

Sold with copied record of service which confirms Serbian Medal for Zeal.