The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Four: British War and Victory Medals (J.44927 H. J. Mason, A.B. R.N.); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Iraq 1919-20 (J.44927 H. J. Mason, A.B. R.N.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1920 (J.44927 H. J. Mason, A.B. H.M.S. Clio) contact marks, therefore good fine and better and a rare group (4)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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A total of 122 medals issued with this clasp to the members of the crews of H.M. Ships CLIO, ESPIEGLE and TRIAD who served in River Gun Boats within the borders of Iraq, 1 July to 17 November 1920. Only 50 recipients, all from CLIO, received medals for both Iraq and Somaliland.

Henry John Mason was born on 14 December 1898 in Poplar, London. He was employed as a Rope Maker before joining the service as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. POWERFUL on 11 September 1915. Advanced to Boy 1st Class on 9 March 1916 and joined DEFIANCE (April 1916) and CONQUEROR (September 1916). Whilst aboard the latter ship he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 14 December 1916, and to Able Seaman on 11 April 1918. As an Able Seaman for the next 17 years he served aboard the following ships and shore establishments:- PEMBROKE (July 1918), GENERAL CRAUFORD (August 1918), COLUMBINE for VERALUM (November 1918), and CLIO (October 1918) serving in the Somaliland campaign of 1920. Subsequently served on JUMNA (August 1920), PEMBROKE (December 1920), GANGES (August 1921), KELLET (March 1922), DRAGON (June 1922), VERNON (October 1922), PEMBROKE (December 1922), AGAMEMNON (April 1923), successively borne on the books of COLUMBINE (December 1923 - June 1927) for VALENTINE and for VIOLENT (both December 1923), for Submarine E.11 (November 1925), for VELOX (January 1927), and once again for Submarine E.11 (June 1927), CALYPSO (August 1927), CALLIOPE (September 1928), MARSHAL SOULT (December 1929), PEMBROKE (September 1930), SANDHURST (July 1931), EGMONT II (November 1932), PEMBROKE (May 1933), GANGES (June 1933), PEMBROKE (December 1933), ARK ROYAL (March 1934), PEMBROKE for COMET (August 1934), PEMBROKE (January 1935). He was not awarded a L.S. & G.C. medal and his campaign medal entitlement is confirmed on his original parchment Certificate of Service sold with the group.