CAMPAIGN GROUPS AND PAIRS x136
Six: Chief Engine Room Artificer W. White, Royal Navy
AFRICA GENERAL SERVICE 1902-56, 2 clasps, Somaliland 1902-04, Somaliland 1908-10 (W. White, E.R.A. 2Cl., H.M.S. Dryad.); NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (164112. W. White, Ch. E.R.A. 1Cl., H.M.S. Hyacinth.); 1914-15 STAR (164112. W. White. C.E.R.A., R.N.); BRITISHWAR ANDVICTORYMEDALS (164112 W. White. C.E.R.A. R.N.) VM officially re-impressed; ROYAL NAVY L.S. & G.C.,
E.VII.R. (164112 William White, C.E.R.A. 2Cl., H.M.S. Cumberland.) edge nicks throughout, light contact marks, generally very fine (6)
£400-500
William White was born at Scolar Green, Cheshire, on 6 October 1868, and joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer on 26 October 1891. Advanced to Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class on 22 February 1899, he was posted to H.M.S. Dryad on 7 December of that year and served with them during operations on and off the coast of Somaliland. Advanced to Chief Engine Room Artificer on 1 October 1905, he joined H.M.S. Cumberland on 20 January 1906, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 2 November of that year. He transferred to H.M.S. Hyacinth on 27 March 1909, and saw further service on and off the coast of Somaliland in her, as well as taking part in operations in the Persian Gulf. He was shore pensioned on 10 November 1913, but was recalled for service on the outbreak of the Great War and was posted to H.M.S. Hermes. On the 31 October 1914 Hermes was struck by a torpedo from the German U-Boat U27 off Ruylingen Bank in the Straits of Dover with the loss of 22 lives. White survived the War, and was shore demobilised on 31 July 1919, after 27 years’ service.
Approximately 106 2 clasp Africa General Service Medals awarded to the Royal Navy. 137
A well-documented and unusual ‘casualty’ group of five awarded to Chief Petty Officer J. W. Varney, Royal Navy, wounded when part of a landing party at Mowilla in the Red Sea, 21 March 1915
NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (212923. J. W. Varney, LG. Sea. H.M.S. Sphinx.); 1914-15 STAR (212923, J. W. Varney. P.O., R.N.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (212923 J. W. Varney. P.O. R.N.); ROYAL NAVY L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue, fixed suspension (212923 J. W. Varney. P.O. H.M.S. Erin.) generally very fine (5)
£300-400 Provenance: DNW, September 2001.
John William Varney was born in Bermondsey, London, in May 1885. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in January 1901, and advanced to Leading Seaman in October 1912. Subsequent service included in H.M.S. Sphinx, March 1913 - August 1914, before transferring as Petty Officer to R.I.M.S. Dufferin in August 1914. Varney continued to take part in operations in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea to suppress the arms trade.
On 21 March 1915, in an effort to prevent the Turkish Army from reaching the Suez Canal, a naval landing was planned to take place at Mowilla in the Red Sea. The Dufferin’s log for the latter date states, ‘0856. Stopped at Mowila and sent away P.O. party in the first cutter, and galley in charge Lieut. R.I.M. When nearing shore boats fired on from ambush. Ship opened fire on fore shore to cover retreat of boats. 1000. Boats returned cease fire. 1030. Proceeded at 1/2 speed 75 revs. to Suez.’
Petty Officer Varney’s Certificate of Wounds and Hurts adds the following additional detail, ‘Joseph [sic] William Varney P.O. His Majesty’s Ship “Dufferin” being then actually on His Majesty’s Service in Landing Party at Mowilla, Red Sea was wounded on 21st March by fire of the enemy as they reached shore. Bullet wound as follows, entry wound right buttock exit wound left buttock. There was a haemorrhage from both wounds.’
Interestingly Varney’s service record states that he was issued with a duplicate N.G.S. ‘free of charge to replace the original lost on active.’ It is recorded that ‘a consignment of these medals [N.G.S.] was despatched from London, on 18th December 1915, in S.S. Persia. Unfortunately she was torpedoed and sunk by U38, 30th December, and the medals together with 334 of the 501 passengers and crew were lost. This possibly explains why some Persian Gulf medals are found impressed in later smaller lettering and issued with a fixed suspension, to replace those lost.’ (British Battles and Medals refers)
Varney’s N.G.S., however, is 1st type with swivel suspension. His service during the Great War included with H.M.S Pembroke, November 1916 to June 1917, and then the Ceres until March 1920. Varney advanced to Chief Petty Officer in June 1923, and was pensioned in May 1925. He transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve before being mobilised for service as Chief Petty Officer during the Second War. Varney was discharged from the Navy in June 1944, and died in Barnstaple in 1980.
Sold with the following original documents: three Royal Navy Certificates of Service; two Certificates for Wounds and Hurts, dated 5 May 1910 and 22 March 1915 respectively; Gunnery and Torpedo History Sheet; General Passing Certificate, dated June 1912; Great War ‘Welcome Home Certificate’ from Kew Parish Church; letter of appreciation of service from the Commodore, Chatham Naval Barracks and a quantity of photographs from various stages of Varney’s service career.
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