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Auction: 22002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 190

A rare Shore Wireless Service Royal Navy M.S.M. group of three awarded to Petty Officer H. C. Wills, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, a Marconi Wireless employee at the Experimental Department

British War Medal 1914-20 (S.W.S. H. C. Wills. P.O. R.N.V.R.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-18 (Henry C. Wills); Royal Navy Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (H. C. Wills, P.O.1Cl. R.N.V.R. Shore Wireless Service 1915/18.), good very fine (3)

Approximately 14 M.S.M. awards to the Shore Wireless Service.

M.S.M. London Gazette 16 September 1919.

Henry Charles Wills was born on 3 June 1889 at Stockwell, London and was educated at the Woodland Road School, Lambeth from 1893. By 1913 Wills was working in Brussels for La Compagnie de Telegraphie Sans Fils, which was associated with the British Marconi Company. Wills joined Marconi as a Certified Wireless Operator from 18 May 1913 and was present when all their works and staff were taken over by the Government for War Service upon the outbreak of the Great War.

Wills is noted as having been on 'Special Duty' with Captain H. J. Round as a Wireless Operator. Round is notable as he spotted the German radio patterns which showed the movement of the German High Seas Fleet being put to sea. This was passed to the Admiralty who were able to order the Grand Fleet to 'steam ahead' - thus the result was the Battle of Jutland.

The staff at Marconi were originally not considered to be on military service, only serving seconded but after various appeals, they were admitted to the 'Wavy Navy'. Given the work of Wills, it is no surprise he was awarded the M.S.M. but the presence of the Mercantile Marine War Medal remains a mystery. Approximately 466 single British War Medals were issued to the Shore Wireless Service for their contribution to the Great War. His was sent to him C/O W. T. Ditchman at the Experimental Department at the Marconi Works.

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Sold for
£1,100

Starting price
£320