Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 19002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 129

(x) An 'Allied Intervention 1919' group of four to Leading Stoker W. W. Curtis, Royal Navy, who served aboard H.M.S. Caradoc in support of White Russian forces in the Crimea and saw action during the Yalta and Odessa offensives

1914-15 Star (K. 7184. W. W. Curtis, Act. L. Sto. , R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (K. 7184 W. W. Curtis. L. Sto. R.N.); Russia, Imperial, St. George Cross, 4th Class, 35mm, silver, officially numbered '870355' to reverse, contact marks, nearly very fine

Walter Wilfred Curtis was born at Bishop Wilton, Yorkshire on 22 May 1892, gaining civilian employment as an invoice clerk. He joined the shore establishment H.M.S. Victory II as Stoker 2nd Class on 8 June 1910. Transferred to Exmouth on 7 February 1911, he was a Leading Stoker aboard Albemarle throughout the Great War.

He joined the C-Class light cruiser Caradoc as a Leading Stoker at Rosyth on 26 February 1919. By 19 April, Caradoc was patrolling the Crimean coast in support of the anti-Bolshevik Volunteer Army. Together with the Greek battleship Lemnos, she bombarded Red Army positions at Vladislovovka and Parpach. On 2 May, she fired on a Bolshevik attack. Three months later, she was hit by three 3-inch shells as she engaged Bolshevik coastal artillery at Ochakov. In recognition of his services, the White Russians awarded Curtis the Cross of St. George, 4th Class on 30 August (his Certificate of Service confirms). Next month, Caradoc supported amphibious landings by the Volunteer Army at Odessa and Yalta. She was withdrawn in mid-1920 to observe the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-22.

Curtis returned to Victory II on 4 March 1922, and was shore-pensioned on 7 June that year, his conduct described as 'very good'; sold with his original Certificate of Service and Stoker Qualification Certificate.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£1,600