Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Chief Sick Berth Steward H. Keeble, Royal Naval Hospital, Belle Vue, Dunkirk

1914 Star (135654. H. Keeble, Ch. S.B.S. Dunkirk.); British War and Victory Medals (135654 H. Keeble. Ch. S.B.S. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (Henry Keeble. S.B. Stewd., H.M.S. Auroa.) mounted for wear, generally very or better, scarce (4) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of 1914 Stars to the Royal Naval Division.

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Henry Keeble was born in London in 1870, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy in 1885. He served with the Sick Berth branch, and was promoted to 2nd Sick Berth Steward ‘for meritorious service’ in April 1892. Keeble advanced to Chief Sick Berth Steward, and was pensioned in 1910. A Freemason, he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve, and was mobilised at Chatham Hospital in August 1914. Keeble was a member of the team of Sick Berth Reservists who were sent to the Naval Hospital at Belle Vue, Dunkirk.

Keeble returned to the UK in October 1914, and was posted for service at Chatham Hospital where he spent the rest of the war until demobilised in May 1919. He was engaged as a crew member (’Hosp. Attd.’) of the S.S. Aquitania, travelling from Southampton to New York, in October 1920. Keeble died at 50 Leighton Road, Itchen, Southampton in March 1939.

Sold with copied research, including a group photographic image with the recipient amongst the other Sick Berth Reservists at Belle Vue, Dunkirk.