Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Surgeon Commander W. N. Blatchford, Royal Navy, who was landed from H.M.S. Sutlej following the Messina Earthquake in December 1908, one of the first surgeons to work ashore as part of the relief operations

1914-15 Star (St. Surg. W. N. Blatchford, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Surg. Lt. Cr. W. N. Blatchford. R.N.); Italy, Kingdom, Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, silver, unnamed as issued, good very fine (4) £400-£500

William Nichols Blatchford was appointed a Surgeon in the Royal Navy on 21 November 1902. First appointed to the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar, he joined his first ship H.M.S. Empress of India on 21 July 1903, and subsequently joined H.M.S. Triumph on 21 June 1904 on commissioning. Appointed to Victory Barracks on 17 May 1906, and to H.M.S. Vivid at Devonport on 12 May 1908, he shortly after joined H.M.S. Sutlej and it was from this ship that he was landed ashore to assist with the disaster relief efforts following the Messina Earthquake.

Angels in Blue Jackets by J. W. Wilson and R. Perkins gives the following details:
‘Blatchford was one of the first Surgeons to work ashore at Messina and therefore particularly deserving of recognition. Did not receive an Italian Order, possibly because he was sent subsequently on a course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich when H.M.S. Sutlej decommissioned and was therefore overlooked.’

Blatchford was appointed to H.M.S. Donegal on 9 March 1909, and in October the same year came ashore to complete a three-month Hospital course. After further service ashore he was appointed to H.M.S. Argyll on 27 February 1912, and prior to the outbreak of the Great War he was serving at the Royal Marine Depot at Deal. Appointed to H.M.S. Juno on 1 August 1914, the ship was deployed to the Persian Gulf shortly after. His service record is noted on 12 September 1915:
‘The Captain, H.M.S. Juno says Staff Surgeon Blatchford has had a great deal of work to do tending the wounded since arrival, during which time he has shown marked zeal and ability.’

This is almost certainly a reference to the action at Bushire, when the Turks attacked British positions there and a landing party from H.M.S. Juno assisted in fighting off the attack. In October 1916 his Commanding Officer wrote:
‘He does excellent work as Medical Officer with great zeal in most trying times of great heat and has been the means of saving many lives last August, he has been landed on active service under very heavy fire.’

Appointed to H.M.S. Penelope on 9 October 1917, Blatchford came ashore on 18 February 1918 and was promoted Surgeon Commander. He continued to serve until placed on the Retired List on 23 October 1924, and died in Bournemouth in April 1952.

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