Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Sergeant G. Callister, Royal Marine Artillery, who witnessed the pounding of the Turkish forts at the mouth of the Dardanelles Strait in 1915

1914-15 Star (R.M.A. 10295 Bomb. G. Callister.); British War and Victory Medals (R.M.A. 10295 Sgt. G. Callister.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (10295 George Callister. Corporal. R.M.A.) heavy edge nicks to LSGC, otherwise nearly very fine and better (4) £120-£160

George Callister was born in Wallasey on 10 April 1884 and attested for the Royal Marine Artillery at Liverpool in 1902. Raised Gunner in 1903 and Bombardier on 20 September 1914, he spent almost the entirety of the Great War aboard the pre-dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Lord Nelson. Upon the outbreak of hostilities, Lord Nelson covered the safe transport of the B.E.F. to France. On 14 November 1914, she transferred to Sheerness to guard the English coast against the possibility of German invasion. Ordered to the Dardanelles in February 1915, Lord Nelson took part in the bombardment of the inner forts and supported the initial landings; engaged heavily on 7 March and struck on several occasions by Turkish fire which flooded two coal bunkers, she was forced to retreat to Malta for repairs - carrying a rather interesting souvenir in the form of a stone cannonball which landed upon her deck and was kept by Flag Officer Arthur Baker.

Remaining in service post-Armistice, Callister was discharged dead from the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, on 20 February 1923 in consequence of a tumour to his tongue.