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Auction: 21002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 103

Five: Bandmaster L. Forbes, Royal Marines

1914-15 Star (R.M.B. 316. Bd. Cpl. L. Forbes.); British War and Victory Medals (R.M.B. 316 BdMr. 2. L. Forbes.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (R.M.B. 316 L. Forbes. Bd.Cpl. R.M.B.); Russia, Empire, Medal of the Order of St George, 4th Class, reverse officially numbered '1272434', contact marks, minor edge bruising, neary very fine (5)

Lawrence Forbes was born at Glasgow, Scotland on 15 July 1888. Enlisting at Manchester on 16 February 1904 with the rank of 'Band Boy' he served first at Eastney Barracks in Portsmouth from 15 February-21 July 1904. After a brief stay at Chatham from 22 July-21 October 1904 he returned to Eastney being promoted Musician on 15 July 1906. His first posting to a warship was aboard the Invincible-Class Battlecruiser HMS Indomitable from 29 June-7 August 1908. Later that year he served aboard HMS Britannia, the Royal Yacht, from 13 October-20 January 1910. At the outbreak of the First World War he was serving aboard Britannia however on 10 August 1915 Forbes was posted to HMS Canada serving with 4th Battle Squadron in the Grand Fleet. The Canada was one of the vessels to engage during the Battle of Jutland from 31 May-1 June 1916. During the battle Canada engaged the heavily damaged SMS Wiesbaden and targeted a number of destroyers. She escaped without having suffered any hits or taken any losses. Forbes continued to serve with the Canada for the duration of the war, being promoted Bandmaster on 5 July 1918. Returned to the rank of Corporal while serving aboard HMS Benbow on 18 August 1920. Forbes served for another seven years including a turn on HMS Iron Duke from 8 March 1921-23 October 1923. He was demobilised on 14 July 1927; sold together with copied research listing the then Band Corporal Forbes' award of the Bravery Medal of the Order of St. George.

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Sold for
£2,300

Starting price
£140