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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 382

The British War Medal awarded to 2nd Lieutenant J. Lessells, Royal Naval Air Service, who saw service with the Armoured Car detachments in both Dunkirk and Russia

Victory Medal 1914-1919 (2. Lieut. J. Lessells), very fine

Jay Lessells was born Kingham, Fife on 20 May 1886, the son of James and Ina Lessells, of 12 Chancelot Terrace, Kingham. Enlisting on 1 January 1915 with the rank of Petty Officer Mechanical Engineer Class III at Pembroke III, with Royal Naval Air Service, Squadron 15. Lessells was posted with this unit to Dunkirk he entered the war here on 26 April 1915. Promoted Chief Petty Officer Class III on 1 May 1916, he was present at Archangel, Russia on 8 November 1916 when the S.S. Baron Driesen exploded at anchor, catching the coal steamer the S.S. Earl of Fife in the blast. His record notes that he provided the Russians with assistance during the incident.

Arriving in Odessa, Russia in December 1917 Lessells was based at Tiraspol Base, leaving here on 27 June 1917 for service in Galicia. The political and military situation in Russia at the time forced the armoured cars to move a great deal, transferring from Proskurov, Galicia to Brovary Base near Kiev on 31 July he was soon moved again to Kursk in September. While stationed here Lessells was awarded the Silver Breast Medal with St. Stanislas ribbon for his work on 15 October 1917 (medal). Returning to England on 12 February 1918 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 1 April 1918. Lessells was serving with the training branch of the R.A.F. during the Second World War, being promoted Flying Officer in 1947. He retired on 5 May 1951; sold together with copied research including service records, M.I.C. and London Gazette entries.

Further entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Silver Breast Medal of the Order of St. Stanislas as well as the Defence and War Medals 1939-45.

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Sold for
£210

Starting price
£40