Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes

Four: Colour-Sergeant J. Sirett, Royal Marines

British War Medal 1914-20 (R.M.A. 5109 Act. Q.M.S.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (5109 Sergt., R.M.A.); Royal Navy Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (R.M.A./5109 A./W.O. 2 Cl., R.M.A., Recruiting Newcastle); Royal Marines Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R. (R.M.A. 5109 Clr. Sgt., 20.9.1945) surname officially corrected on the last two, generally very fine and better and most probably a unique combination of M.S.Ms (4) £850-950

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Meritorious Service Medal Groups from the Collection of Ian McInnes.

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See Colour Plate IX

John Sirett was born in Sutton in October 1875 and enlisted in the Royal Marine Artillery in January 1894. Over his ensuing career of 25 years, he enjoyed several seagoing appointments in capital ships and steady promotion, attaining the rank of Colour-Sergeant in August 1909. He was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in February of the same year and his Naval M.S.M. while an Acting Warrant Officer 2nd Class employed on recruiting duties in Newcastle (London Gazette 1 April 1919). Demobilised a few months later, Sirett appears to have settled in Catford, London. Then in September 1945, he was awarded the Royal Marines M.S.M. and annuity, a reward that he enjoyed until his death in March 1956; see Ian McInnes’ The M.S.M. to Naval Forces for further career details and photograph; Sirett appears in a group photograph taken of the Admiralty Recruiting Staff, Newcastle on 11 November 1918, a copy of which is reproduced in The Globe and Laurel in 1919.