Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The fine U.S.A. Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal group of ten awarded to Chief Petty Officer R. Ginn, Royal Navy, for his ‘Heroic Services’ in saving life on board the American S.S. Balabac when that vessel was lost by fire in March 1920

1914-15 Star (J. 14640 R. Ginn. A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J. 14640 R. Ginn. L.S. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Pacific Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (J. 14640 R. Ginn. P.O., H.M.S. Barham); United States of America, Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal, head of Liberty left, ‘Presented by the President of the United States’ around, the reverse officially inscribed, ‘Robert Ginn, Petty Officer, H.M.S. Calcutta, In Recognition of His Heroic Services to the Master and Crew of the American Steamship Balabac at the Time of the Burning of that Vessel on March 6 1920’, complete with ‘E. Plurs. Unum’ brooch bar and in its fitted case of issue, the first nine mounted as worn, the Great War medals with contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus fine or better, the U.S.A. award with a few edge nicks, otherwise nearly extremely fine (10) £2,600-£3,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Robert Ginn was born at Ware, Hertfordshire in February 1896 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in October 1911.

Advanced to Able Seaman aboard the battle cruiser H.M.S. Princess Royal a few days before the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he was present in that ship at the action in Heligoland Bight on the 28th of the same month and at Dogger Bank on 24 January 1915. Appointments ashore at Victory and Excellent followed but in June 1916 he joined the destroyer Opportune, in which ship he served until returning ashore to Victory in January 1918. Ginn’s final wartime appointment was in the cruiser Vindictive as a recently promoted Leading Seaman.

Joining the cruiser Calcutta in September 1919, he was advanced to Petty Officer on 1 March of the following year, just a few days before winning his Presidential Gold Lifesaving Medal - his parchment Certificate of Service states: ‘For his heroism in saving life on board the S.S. Balabac when that vessel was lost by fire.’

Having been pensioned as a Chief Petty Officer in February 1936, Ginn was recalled to President III in August 1939 and served on the books of that establishment - actually the H.Q. for all naval personnel employed on Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships (D.E.M.S.) - until his release in February 1945.

Sold with original parchment Certificate of Service and named card box of issue for 1939-45 campaign medals together with Admiralty enclosure.