Three: Commissioned Writer H. Ratcliffe, Royal Navy

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (Wr., H.M.S. Widgeon); British War Medal 1914-20 (Cd. Wr., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (161220 Ch. Writer, H.M.S. Wildfire), the second with officially corrected surname and the last with officially corrected ship’s name and surname spelling ‘Ratcliff’, edge bruising, generally good very fine (3) £160-180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for Services at Sea from the Collection of the Late Oliver Stirling Lee.

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Hartington Ratcliffe was born at Queenborough, Kent in September 1872 and entered the Royal Navy as a Writer 3rd Class in June 1891. He subsequently witnessed active service aboard H.M.S. Widgeon during the Boer War, and was one of 72 crew members to qualify for the “Natal” clasp. Awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in July 1906 and pensioned ashore in June 1913, he was quickly re-engaged and appointed a Warrant Writer in December 1914. Subsequently employed ashore in President and at the Ministry of Pensions, he was advanced to Commissioned Writer in April 1918, in which rank he was placed on the Retired List in April 1920.