Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War ‘Royal Yacht’ service R.V.M. group of seven awarded to Chief Petty Officer (Cook) C. H. Bickley, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Victorian Medal, E.II.R., silver; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, with Second Award Clasp (LX.21082 C. H. Bickley O.C.1 H.M.S. Emerald) mounted as worn, good very fine (7) £300-£400

R.V.M. (Silver 13 June 1959: ‘Charles Henry Bickley, C.P.O., H.M.Y. Britannia.’

Charles Henry Bickley was born on 14 October 1911, at Exeter, Devon. A domestic gardener by trade, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as Officer’s Cook 4th Class on 25 November 1929, serving for over 30 years and rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, serving the last 7 years on the Royal Yacht Britannia as Chief Cook.
He served on a variety of H.M. Ships and shore bases including the Campbell, Dolphin, Nelson, Victory 2, Boscowen, Glasgow, Pembroke 2, Scout and Dunedin.
During WW2 he served on Ark Royal (aircraft carrier) from July 1939 to March 1940; Acheron (destroyer) from March to October 1940; Argus (aircraft carrier) October 1940 to December 1942; Victory December 1942 to March 1943; Emerald (light cruiser) March 1943 to October 1944, receiving his L.S. & G.C. medal in this ship in September 1944; Glenroy (Troop and landing ship) from February to August 1945. Post war he continued to serve on the Vanguard, Anson, Howe, Excellent, Vengeance, Adamant, Bellerophon, Mauritius and the Royal Yacht Britannia from January 1954 to November 1961 and shore pension. He received his Clasp to L.S. & G.C. medal on 13 March 1960. Chief Petty Officer Bickley died in January 1985.

Sold with copied research and a group photograph of the crew with the Royal family aboard Britannia.