Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Chief Engine Room Artificer P. J. Lawless, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Russian St. George’s Medal for Bravery for Jutland

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (P. J. Lawless, Ch. E.R.A. 2 Cl., H.M.S. Perseus); 1914-15 Star (268442 P. J. Lawless, C.E.R.A. 1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (268442 P. J. Lawless, C.E.R.A. 1, R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (268442 P. J. Lawless, C.E.R.A. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Cressy); Russia, St. George’s Medal for Bravery, 4th Class, the edge engraved, ‘P. J. Lawless, C.E.R.A. 1, H.M.S. Royal Oak’, and the reverse officially numbered ‘1272985’, together with the recipient’s Silver War Badge, the reverse officially inscribed, ‘No. R.N. 18118’, the Edwardian awards with contact marks, good fine, the remainder very fine or better (7) £800-1000

Patrick Joseph Lawless was born at Drogheda, Co. Louth, in July 1871 and entered the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer in March 1895. By the time of his joining the cruiser H.M.S. Perseus in October 1903, he was an Acting C.E.R.A. 2nd Class, in which capacity he witnessed active service off Somaliland (Medal & clasp). Having then been awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in March 1910, he was serving as a C.E.R.A. 1st Class in the cruiser Natal on the outbreak of hostilities, but it was for his subsequent services in the battleship Royal Oak at Jutland that he was decorated by our Russian allies. Lawless came ashore for a final time in October 1917, when he was invalided on account of ill-health; sold with copied service record and medal roll verification, including the St. George’s Medal for Bravery.