Six: Chief Petty Officer C. H. Kitto, Royal Navy

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Lg. Sn., H.M.S. Niobe), surname ‘Kitts’; 1914-15 Star (153484 Act. C.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (153484 C.P.O., R.N.), surname ‘Kilto’; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (153484 P.O. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Vengeance); Special Constabulary Long Service, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Charles H. Kitto), light contact marks and edge bruising, generally very fine (6) £220-250

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barrett J. Carr Collection of Boer War Medals.

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530 no-clasp Queen’s South Africa Medals were awarded to the ship’s company of H.M.S. Niobe.

Charles Henry Kitto was born in Cornwall in October 1874 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in October 1892. Advanced to Leading Seaman in October 1897, he served aboard H.M.S. Niobe from December 1898 to November 1900, including her commission off South Africa.

Promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class in April 1903, he was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in November 1907 and was serving in Vivid I on the advent of hostilities in August 1914. Then in January 1915, he joined the recently launched cruiser Cordelia, in which ship he served until being demobilised in March 1919, a period that witnessed his promotion to Chief Petty Officer and participation in the Battle of Jutland.