Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Able Seaman A. McDonald, Royal Navy, who survived the loss of H.M.S. Hermes on 31 October 1914
1914-15 Star (176535, A. Mc. Donald, A.B., R.N.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (176535 A. Mc. Donald. A.B. R.N.) nearly very fine and better

Pair: Chief Ship’s Cook P. Gillon, Royal Navy
British War and Victory Medals (340941 P. Gillon. Ch.Sh.Ck. R.N.) nearly extremely fine

Pair: Able Seaman A. Clare, Royal Navy
British War and Victory Medals (J.78184 A. Clare. A.B. R.N.) good very fine (6) £80-£100

Archibald McDonald, a labourer, was born in Stornoway on 16 November 1878 and joined the Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class on 19 October 1893. Advanced Able Seaman in H.M.S. Barracouta 9 May 1898, he served in the protected cruiser H.M.S. Hermes from 25 August 1914; recommissioned as an aircraft ferry and depot ship for the Royal Naval Air Service, she was torpedoed and sunk in the Straits of Dover by the German submarine U-27, with the loss of 21 lives. Demobilised 30 December 1915, McDonald spent the remainder of the war employed ‘in connection with Government contracts.’

Percy Gillon, a labourer, was born in Kennington on 17 January 1877 and joined the Royal Navy as Cook’s Mate 2nd Class on 2 October 1895. He served during the Great War in H.M.S. Boadicea from 3 March 1913 to 10 November 1916, and was discharged from H.M.S. Coventry as Chief Ship’s Cook on 24 February 1919.

Alfred Clare, a woollen piercer, was born in Olney, Northamptonshire, on 22 August 1899, and joined the Royal Navy as Ordinary Seaman on 18 September 1917. Posted to the battleship H.M.S. Revenge from 27 November 1917, he was demobilised on 7 July 1919.