Medals for the Somaliland 1902-1904 to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines

Five: Leading Seaman E. R. Petherbridge, Royal Navy

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (A.B., H.M.S. Highflyer); 1914-15 Star (203600 L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (203600 L.S., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (203600 Lg. Sea., H.M.S. Cæsar) nearly very fine and better (5) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for the Somaliland 1902-1904 to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

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Erneast Roland Petherbridge was born in Ellacombe, Devon, on 20 January 1882. A Labourer by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on Northampton in March 1899, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in June. Promoted to Ordinary Seaman in January 1900 when based on Vivid I, he joined the 2nd class cruiser Highflyer in in May 1900 and was advanced to Able Seaman in January 1902. On the ship he served in the operations on and off the coast of Somaliland. Based on Vivid I he attained the rank of Leading Seaman in January 1905 and was pensioned ashore in January 1912, joining the R.F.R. Recalled for war service, Petherbridge served on the battleship Illustrious, July 1914-November 1915, the battleship Vengeance, December 1915-June 1916, the 2nd class cruiser Hyacinth, June 1916-March 1917, and the armed merchant cruiser Orama, May-August 1917. He was fortunate to leave the latter ship when he did, as it was sunk by a German submarine on 19 October 1917. Petherbridge then served at the Torpedo Establishment Defiance, August-November 1917, followed by service on the battleship Cæsar, November 1917-March 1919, where he qualified for his L.S. & G.C. Medal. Transferred to the R.F.R. he was demobilised on 8 June 1921. Sold with copied service papers.