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Auction: 19003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 632

The mounted group of six miniature dress medals worn by Captain R. Mends, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves; Coronation 1935; France, Republic, Legion of Honour, silver-gilt and enamel; Russia, Imperial, Order of St. Anne, silver-gilt, gilt and enamel, mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (6)

Russian Order of St. Anne London Gazette 19 November 1915. Presented with the Order at Petrograd on 13 March 1915 as a result of H.M.S. Jupiter's epic journey to Archangel that February.

French Legion of Honour London Gazette 11 November 1916 (Jutland).

Robert Mends was born on 9 January 1889 at Anglesey, Wales and entered Britannia Royal Naval College in January 1904. Commissioned Midshipman a year later, he specialised in gunnery and was a Lieutenant by the outbreak of the Great War. Serving initially aboard Surly, his transfer to Jupiter would take him on an epic journey. It was aboard her that Mends served on the Archangel icebreaking mission in February 1915, becoming the first ship in history to make port at that time of winter. On account of the remarkable service of Jupiter and all those aboard her, the Tsar saw fit to strike and reward those who had taken part, Mends earned the Order of St. Anne.

Returned home, Mends then saw action aboard Warrior, notably at the Battle of Jutland when she was ravaged by enemy fire. He was in fact recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross on account of '...the conspicuous success with which he directed the gunfire during the action' but in the end earned a 'mention' to go with his Legion of Honour. The war closed with various shore postings before a busy period aboard the warships including Hood, Repulse and Agamemnon. Appointed Harbour Master at Dockyard Port, Cromarty in April 1932, mends retired on 7 September 1935. Recalled for home service as Assistant Inspector of Naval Ordnance during the Second War, Mends was retired for the second occasion at the rank of Captain on 12 April 1946; sold together with copied research (including a portrait photograph) and envelope with ink inscription stating:

'Miniature medals. Also Defence Medal ribbon issued to me with a promise of the medal to follow! R.M.'

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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£100