Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Rocket Apparatus Volunteer Long Service Medal, G.V.R. (William Couling) suspension neatly repaired, edge bruising, good very fine £100-£140

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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William Couling (also recorded at Coleing) was born in Oxford in 1866. A Labourer by occupation he attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry at Banbury in November 1886 and transferred to the Royal Artillery as a Gunner in October 1887, serving in India until returning to Devonport in 1894. Marrying a local Plymouth girl in 1897 he was discharged after 12 years’ service in 1898 with no medal entitlement. In February 1899 he attested for the Plymouth Division Royal Engineers (Militia) Submarine Miners and was recalled to Army Service on 20 December 1899, passing as a Skilled Engine Driver Submarine Mining in 1900 stationed at Turnchapel, Plymstock. Demobilised in February 1903 he continued his service with RE (Militia) Submarine Miners until discharged in February 1905. As a Coal Porter residing in Turnchapel he subsequently enrolled in the Mount Batten Life Saving Apparatus Station (Board of Trade) in 1907. He is shown as present in each of the Mount Batten Station annual returns for the years 1920 to 1925 and was presented with his Rocket Apparatus Volunteer Long Service Medal by the Divisional Coastguard Inspector on 24 March 1928. He died at Turnchapel on 19 April 1932, aged 67. After almost continuous service of various sorts between 1886 and at least 1928 this would appear to be his sole medal entitlement.

Sold with copied record of service and other research