Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Victualling Chief Petty Officer C. H. Seeber, Royal Navy

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (C. H. Seeber. Sh. Std. H.M.S. Rambler); British War Medal 1914-20 (133475 C. H. Seeber. V.C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (C. H. Seeber, Sh. Stewd., H.M.S. Defiance.) generally very fine, the BWM extremely fine (3) £140-180

Charles Henry Seeber was born in East Stonehouse, Devon, on 29 May 1870, and was educated at the Greenwich Hospital School. He entered the Royal Navy as a Ship’s Steward Boy on 2 May 1885, and was advanced Ship’s Steward Assistant on 29 May 1888. Promoted Ship’s Steward on 12 October 1895, he joined H.M.S. Rambler on 17 November 1897, served in her off South Africa during the Boer War, before transferring to H.M.S. Defiance on 5 September 1900. He was awarded his Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 9 September 1903, before being pensioned on 26 May 1910. He re-enlisted for service during the Great War on 2 August 1914 as a Ship’s Steward, and was advanced to Victualling Chief Petty Officer on 28 February 1918, serving throughout the War in H.M.S. Victory I. He was demobilised on 19 July 1919, having not served afloat or away from the United Kingdom during the War (and so not entitled to the Victory Medal), but was recalled to the service for one day from 10-11 April 1921 (most likely in respect of an Armistice Day parade).