Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War Naval M.S.M. group of five awarded to Leading Seaman T. H. North, Hawke Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who served during the defence of Antwerp in 1914 prior to service with the armed merchant cruiser H.M.S. Orotava

1914 Star, with copy clasp (B4/842. T. H. North, A.B. Hawke Bttn. R.N.D.); British War and Victory Medals (B.4-842 T. H. North. L.S. R.N.V.R.); Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (4/842. T. H. North. A.B. R.N.V.R. Bristol Div.); Royal Naval Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (B4/842. T. H. North, Ldg. Sea. R.N.V.R. “Orotava” 1 July-11, Nov. 1918) generally nearly very fine (5) £700-£900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of 1914 Stars to the Royal Naval Division.

View
Collection

M.S.M. London Gazette 22 April 1919.

Thomas Herbert North was born in Coombe Dingle, Westbury on Trym, Somerset in May 1890. He joined the Bristol Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in July 1910. North transferred to the Hawke Battalion, Royal Naval Division in August 1914, and took part in the defence of Antwerp. Subsequent service included with H.M.S. Orotava (armed merchant cruiser), 21 December 1914 - 30 November 1917, and 1 March - 31 December 1918. She was armed with five 6-inch guns and two 6-pounder H.A. guns and was commissioned on 17 December 1914, as part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, from December 1914 to October 1916 with the Northern Patrol. Orotava was converted to a Seaplane Tender about November 1916, after which she was off West Africa and in the Southern Atlantic from November 1916 to November 1917. North was demobilised in February 1919, and died in Victoria, Australia in 1956.

Sold with copied research.