2nd Cruiser Squadron 1908, bronze medal, obverse, Hope bidding farewell to the four ships of the squadron, surrounded by inscription ‘South Africa and South America 1908’, reverse ‘2nd Cruiser Squadron, Closer Union 1908, Good Hope, Devonshire, Antrim, Carnarvon,’ with clasp, Simonstown, unnamed as issued; Royal Tournament Prize Medal, bronze, the reverse engraved, ‘Portsmouth Command, Sabre v Sabre, Other Ranks, C.P.O. Finch, J. P., 1936’, in its fitted Carrington & Co. Ltd. leather case, good very fine or better (2) £80-100

John Percival Finch was born in St. Andrew’s, Cambridge in October 1901 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in May 1917. He subsequently witnessed active service in H.M.S. Canterbury from April 1918 until the end of hostilities. Finch, who attained Petty Officer status in May 1927 and was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in November 1934, was a noted swordsman, winning several Royal Tournament competitions in the mid-1930s; sold with copied service record. Subsequently appointed a Bosun, he was mentioned in despatches for his services at the shore establishment H.M.S. Abatos (London Gazette 14 June 1946, refers). Abatos was home to the team charged with the planning of PLUTO, the undersea pipeline that supplied the Allies with fuel during the liberation of Europe.