Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Petty Officer J. R. Kerle, H.M. Coast Guard, late Royal Navy

British War Medal 1914-20 (198732 Lg. Btn., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (198732 Ldg. Btmn., H.M. Coast Guard); Naval Good Shooting Medal, E.VII.R. (198732 A.B., H.M.S. Sentinel, 1910, 12 Pr. Q.F.), minor contact marks, very fine and better (3) £300-350

John Robert Kerle was born at Bethnal Green, London in September 1882 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in September 1900. He subsequently enjoyed numerous seagoing appointments in the period leading upto his transfer to H.M. Coast Guard (Scottish Division, Fifeness) as a Boatman in March 1911, including service aboard the scout cruiser H.M.S. Sentinel from May 1909 to January 1911, during which period he won his Naval Good Shooting Medal. Employed on harbour defence duties during the Great War, latterly at Nell’s Point in the rank of Leading Boatman, he was awarded a single British War Medal 1914-20 and qualified for his L.S. & G.C. Medal in the same period. Kerle remained employed in the Coast Guard until March 1923, serving variously at Queenstown, Crosshaven and Plymouth, and was advanced to Petty Officer (C.G.) in March 1921. He died in June 1964.