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.

A good Great War Military medal group of 3 to the Machine Gun CorpsMilitary medal GV, ‘12198 PTE C.T. MILLSON 47/M.G.C.’, British War and Victory medals, ‘12198 PTE C.T. WILLSON M.G.C.’, note different spelling of name.With original copy of mobilisation document to C T Millson dated 4th August 1914, folded, Soldiers Small Book to 6611 Charles T Millson, Northamptonshire Regiment, enlisted 30th June 1902 aged 18. Original illuminated copy of Army Order 262, 14th October 1918 listing the Military medal to Millson, folded with some damage along creases. Also includes 2 original photos, 1 of Private Millson, another of him with his family and 2 photos of the Wilward family.Military medal, London Gazette, 7th February 1919 – 12198 Pte. Millson, C. T., 47th Bn. (Gainsboro’)According to later family notes with this group the Military medal was awarded for saving the life of an Officer, Lieutenant Wilward.Charles Millson (or Willson depending on the record) is entitled to the Military medal and pair for his Great War service also serving with the Northamptonshire Regiment (No. 17670) and was discharged to Class Z Army Reserve on 13rh March 1919.

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.

Great War Military Medal to the Tank Corps, replacement issue Military Medal GV, named in a later style ‘92275 PTE. A. E. COOK TANK CORPS’, with a Royal Tank Regiment cap badge converted to a pinback badge. Military medal, London Gazette 24th January 1919 – 92275 Pte. Cook, A. E., 5th Bn. (Plaistow) – Recommendation – For gallantry and initiative near Domart, August 8, 1918. After the Officer and N.C.O. had been wounded, Pte Cook took command of the tank, and continued to command it throughout the day. He reached all his objectives, and by his initiative and courage rendered most valuable assistance to the infantry. Albert Edward Cook initially served with East Kent Regiment and later transferred to the Tank Corps. He Died on 11th May 1934 and his index card shows that his campaign medals were returned to the Medal Office on 28th May 1934 and these were subsequently reissued in August of the same year.