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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 222

Seven: Chief Petty Officer J. W. Clarke, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (133413 C.P.O. J. W. Clarke, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (133413 C.P.O. J. W. Clarke. R.N.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Royal Navy L.S.& G.C., E.VII.R. (P.O.1 Cl. J. W. Clark, H.M.S. Defiance); Special Constabulary Long Service G.VI.R., 1st issue (Joseph W. Clark), note spelling variations; together with an Anglesey Special Constabulary lapel badge, gilt and enamel, generally good very fine (8)

Joseph William Clarke was born on 21 April 1870 at Southport, Lancashire and entered the Royal Navy on 4 May 1885. He gained the ranks of Petty Officer 2nd Class whilst serving on Dreadnaught in April 1895, Petty Officer 1st Class in April 1897 on Talbot and Chief Petty Officer in October 1908 when serving on Sappho. He was discharged with a pension in March 1910 but joined the Royal Fleet Reserve in May of that year. With the outbreak of the Great War he was mobilised and saw active service in the Royal Navy, mainly based at Devonport, until demobilised in March 1919. After the war he returned to his home at Holyhead, Anglesey and worked in the quarries until his retirement in 1935. With the outbreak of the Second World War and at the age of 69 he tried to enlist in the Royal Naval Reserve but was refused due to his advanced age. Nothing daunted, he promptly volunteered for the Special Constabulary in Holyhead, and being accepted was given the service number ‘1S.C.’; added to which he also acted as an Air Raid Warden. After such sterling service to his country, Clarke died on 2 May 1950; sold together with copied service papers and handwritten biographical details and a copied photograph of the recipient in his Special Constabulary uniform.

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Sold for
£280

Starting price
£200