Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A civil C.B. group of six awarded to Paymaster Rear-Admiral R. B. Hosking, Royal Navy

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Civil) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1923, with neck cravat; 1914-15 Star (Ft. Payr, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Payr. Commr., R.N.); Special Constabulary Long Service, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Richard Hoskins (sic)); Royal Humane Society Medal, small, bronze (successful) (Richard B. Hosking, R.N., 2nd July 1911) good very fine (6) £450-550

C.B. (Civil) London Gazette 3 June 1924. ‘Paymaster Captain, R.N.

Richard Bosustow (or Bosuston) Hosking was born on 23 September 1869. He entered the Royal Navy in July 1886 becoming an Assistant Clerk. He was advanced to Clerk in July 1887; Assistant Paymaster in September 1890; Paymaster in December 1900; Staff Paymaster in December 1904, and Fleet Paymaster in 1908 (rank later changed to Paymaster Commander). In July 1911, as Fleet Paymaster he was involved in the rescue of a Frederick S. Heritt:

‘At 8.15 a.m. on the 2nd July, 1911, a man in a fit of insanity threw himself overboard from H.M.S. “Tyne” at Berehaven. R. B. Hosking, fleet paymaster, J. Lawrence, leading signalman, and W. F. Manaton, sick bay steward, all jumped after him, and kept him afloat till a boat reached them.’ (Ref. Case no. 38,260). For his services, Hosking was awarded the R.H.S. Medal in bronze; Manaton and Lawrence were each awarded a Testimonial on Vellum.

His wartime service was spent on the battleship Britannia, 1912-16, and the depot ship Titania, 1916-19. In December 1921 he was promoted to Paymaster Captain. Created a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Civil) in June 1924, he retired with the rank of Paymaster Rear-Admiral on 23 September 1924.

With copied service paper; gazette extracts and other research.