British Medals and Paperwork Archive of Naval Officer Edward White Williams Royal Naval Reserve and Merchant Navy with Presentation Cigarette Case from the Chamber of Commerce of the Island of Guiana and Photograph Album with Image of Arctic Explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, medals consist of British War and Victory medals ‘LIEUT E W WILLIAMS R.N.R’ and George V bronze Mercantile Marine medal ‘EDWARD W WILLIAMS’. The archive and medals are housed in his original sailors suitcase where they have remained undisturbed for nearly 100 years. The grouping of documents includes various certificates relating to his service, a number of letters of recommendation giving references from various merchant ships which he had served on from the pre WW1 era and into the post WW2 period. He was serving in 1919 on board the S.S Arakaka as a 2nd officer when they were decorated for their service in the defence of the Caribbean island of Guiana. Williams was presented with a hallmarked silver cigarette case which has a gold Island of Guiana coin mounted to the lid. The case is hallmarked silver (Birmingham 1917) and is engraved to the interior ‘PRESENTED BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & COLONISTE TO E. W. WILLIAMS FOR DEVOTED SERVICE 1914 TO 1918’. Newspaper cuttings accompany the case which detail the award of this cigarette case, also the official 1919 dated citation scroll.Two photograph albums accompany the grouping which visually document his naval career from the WW1 period and into the post war years. Within one of the albums is an original photograph of the famous Arctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, who was giving a speech at the town hall, Port Stanley, a ticket for this lecture is loose with the album. The two albums are extremely comprehensive and are well annotated. Many very good images from his time in South America, with images in Peru, many good images from a part of the world which was rarely visited at the time. The albums move into North America and especially Canada, with good images of the Canadian wilderness etc. Overall this is a superb grouping which needs to be viewed to really appreciate the in depth historical note of this grouping.

Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service Medal Group of Six, Covering Service in Both World Wars, British War medal, ‘J44884 H. MCDONOUGH A.B. R.N.’, Victory medal, name erased, 1939-45 Star medal, Atlantic Star medal, War medal 1939-45, last 3 unnamed as issued, Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct medal, GVI, 1st type, ‘J44884 DEV.B. 14262 H. MCDONOUGH L.S. R.F.R.’ Group court mounted for wearing. Henry McDonough was born in Stockport, Cheshire, on 1st September 1899 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on HMS Powerful on 2nd September 1915. Discharged to shore on 31st August 1929 (C.S. Expired) he then joined the Royal Fleet Reserve. Recalled for service in August 1939 he served in Drake, Cheshire and Vulture before being discharged due to ill health (Chronic Bronchitis) on 8th August 1941. His Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct medal was issued on 11th October 1943.

Mixed Group of First and Second World War Medals Believed to be From 1 Family, 1914-15 Star medal, British War and Victory medals ‘4750 PTE. J. ROACH R.W. KENT R.’, with Silver War Badge, reverse numbered ‘B123473’; British War medal, ‘147568 GNR G.E. DOUBLE R.A.’; 1939-45 Star medal, Africa Star medal, Italy Star medal and War medal 1939-45, medals unnamed as issued and accompanied by Rifle Brigade cap badge (slightly bent).John Roach from the Old Kent Road, London, enlisted into the 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment on 10th February 1903 and landed in France on 27th December 1914. He later transferred to 399th Labour Company with service number 591898. He was discharged from this unit as unfit for further service due to illness on 7th February 1919 and issued with Silver War Badge B123473. He died in Warrington in 1925.Born in January 1883, George Ernest Double lived in Perry Hall Road, Orpington when he enlisted into the Royal Garrison Artillery. He served with 285th Siege Battery and was discharged due to ill health on 4th December 1918. Also entitled to a Victory medals and Silver War Badge. In 1939 he was living in Chislehurst with his profession being a Master Butcher. He was also a member of the Royal Observer Corps.

George VI Palestine Police General Service Medal and Badges, medal with single clasp ‘PALESTINE’ awarded to ‘1738 B/CONST M J LANDERS PAL POLICE’. Complete with two variations of cap badges for Palestine Police, pair of metal shoulder titles, tunic buttons and trade / proficiency badge on cloth backing.