Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (215723 H. Hill, A.B., H.M.S. Philomel); together with an Italian Messina Earthquake Medal 1908, silver; and a ‘Princess Margaret’ Deliverance from Bolsheviks Medal 1919, by Spink, London, 38mm, white metal, the obverse featuring a fouled anchor enclosed by a life-belt, ‘Princess Margaret’ in raised letters above, and privately engraved ‘William Williamson’ below, the reverse inscribed in raised letters, ‘Riga - London, 3rd Jany. 1919, 17th Jany. 1919, From the Grateful Passengers in Remembrance of their Deliverance from the Bolsheviks’, pierced with ring suspension, the AGS pitted and worn, therefore fair, the others better (3) £140-£180

Dix Noonan Webb September 2006 (AGS only).

Harry Hill was born in Beaminster, Dorset, on 30 April 1886 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in H.M.S. Boscawen on 29 July 1901. Advanced Able Seaman on 22 September 1905, he served in H.M.S. Philomel from 12 February 1908 to 25 July 1909, and was one of 35 men from the ship who landed to provide assistance following the Messina Earthquake on 28 December 1908. He served during the Great War in H.M.S. Princess Margaret from 9 November 1915 to 20 January 1920, and was advanced Leading Seaman on 1 May 1916.

Acting on some disturbing news, the minelayer, H.M.S. Princess Margaret berthed at Riga on 19 December 1918, where she landed her marines on 27 December who, accompanied by an armed party from H.M.S. Ceres, marched through the town. The following day frightened British subjects began to arrive on board. On 29 December it was heard that a Lettish Regiment had mutinied, and arrangements were made for the defence of the approaches to H.M. vessels by the aid of search lights, and the use of star and lyddite shells. Even more refugees joined Princess Margaret that night, bringing the total on board to 392 souls, 143 men, 169 women and 80 children. From 30 December to 3 January 1919 armed parties were constantly landed to police the town and so ward off menacing parties. On 3 January 1919 Princess Margaret sailed for Copenhagen, where two days later she landed some of the refugees prior to her passage to the United Kingdom where the remainder were disembarked.

Hill was shore pensioned on the reduction of the Navy on 21 August 1922.

Sold with copied record of service; and extensive copied research relating to H.M.S. Princess Margaret in the Baltic, including a copy of the ship’s Log.