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Auction: 22102 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction VI - e-Auction
Lot: 292

Five: Able Seaman W. T. Sheldy, Royal Navy, who was awarded the Russian Medal for Zeal whilst aboard the Jupiter on her icebreaking mission to Archangel in 1915

1914-15 Star (205390, W. T. Sheldy, A.B. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (205390 W. T. Sheldy. A.B. R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (205390 Dev. B. 2126 W. T. Shelby. A.B. R.F.R.), note surname spelling; Russia, Imperial, Medal for Zeal, Nicholas II, small silver medal (205390 W. T. Sheldy, A.B. H.M.S. Jupiter), mounted as worn, the fourth with official corrections, very fine (5)

William Thomas Sheldy was born at Belfast on 1 January 1883 and was a rigger upon his joining the Royal Navy on 11 July 1899. Having joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 26 April 1908, Sheldy joined the books of H.M.S. Jupiter on 16 August 1914. In January 1915 the Admiralty received a request for assistance from the Russian Government, as their icebreaker used to keep open the passage to Archangel in the White Sea had broken down. In response the Royal Navy sent out Jupiter, an old Majestic-class battleship.

She departed for Archangel in February 1915, freeing en route a number of vessels stuck in the ice, occasionally by using explosive charges. She, too, sometimes became icebound, but still managed to make a major impression on the problem, improving the safe passage of numerous vessels, many of them laden with highly important war materials, among them the S.S. Thracia. The latter was taken in tow after the use of explosive charges to free her. Throughout these operations it was not unusual for the temperature to fall as low as minus 20 degrees, a hard test indeed on the morale and well being of the Jupiter’s crew. Her mission completed by May 1915, the Tzar expressed his gratitude by the presentation of a variety of Russian Honours and Awards to her crew.

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Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£400