Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Leading Stoker J. Samways, Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary
1914-15 Star (J. Samways. L.Sto., M.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (J. Samways. L.Sto. M.F.A.) with damaged named card boxes of issue, extremely fine

Three: Chief Baker F. Mew, Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary
British War Medal 1914-20 (F. Mew. Ch. Bkr. M.F.A.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (Frank Mew); Victory Medal 1914-19 (F. Mew. Ch. Bkr. M.F.A.) scratches to obverse of MMWM, otherwise good very fine (6) £100-£140

James Samways was born in Broadmayne, Dorset, on 30 May 1873, and joined the Royal Navy as Stoker 2nd Class on 30 September 1894. Advanced Leading Stoker 2nd Class in H.M.S. Daphne 1 July 1897, he was discharged to shore from H.M.S. Hearty 11 January 1905. Re-enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve 4 December 1905, Samways served as Leading Stoker, later Leading Fireman, aboard the collier Kharki. Purchased by the Admiralty for general transport service, Kharki spent much of the Great War operating out of Sheerness in the waters of the Thames Estuary, North Sea and English Channel.

Frank Mew, a confectioner, was born in Newbridge, Isle of Wight, in 1879, and served as Chief Baker in the Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary during the Great War.