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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 685

(x) Six: Petty Officer F. V. Butcher, Royal Navy, who was awarded his L.S. & G.C. while seconded to the Royal Australian Navy

1914-15 Star (J.19780, F. V. Butcher, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.19780 F. V. Butcher. A.B. R.N.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Naval L.S. & G.C. (J.19780 F.V. Butcher. A/P.O. H.M.A.S. Australia.), G.V.R., contact marks, polishing, edge bruising, overall nearly very fine (6)

Frederick Victory Butcher was born at Worthing, Sussex on 28 March 1897, the son of Walter and Elizabeth Butcher of 5 Wallace Cottage, Worthing. Enlisting with the Royal Navy as Boy Class II on 14 August 1912 he was posted to the training establishment H.M.S. Impregnable. Seeing service afloat for the first time with Theseus he was serving with the Armoured Cruiser Achilles when he reached maturity and was appointed Ordinary Seaman on 27 September 1914.

Butcher remained with Achilles until 30 September 1916 when he was posted to the Gunnery School Excellent. Returning to sea with the Royal Sovereign he was still with this battlecruiser when the war ended. During the British Naval intervention in the Eastern Mediterranean Royal Sovereign was posted to Istanbul where she took on a number of notable White Russian emigres.

After this Butcher was to serve with numerous vessels and establishments, notably Courageous and Malaya before being loaned to the Royal Australian Navy from 1 May 1928. Here he was posted to the new county-class cruiser H.M.A.S. Australia as Petty Officer, a role he was to fill for the next two years. During this time he was to receive his L.S. & G.C., named to him at H.M.A.S. Australia. Returning to the Royal Navy he continued to serve until 27 March 1937 when he was pensioned ashore.

Re-mobilised with H.M.S. Excellent during the Munich Crisis he returned to the colours for action during the Second World War. His service largely involved the Fleet Air Arm, being posted first to H.M.S. Kestrel on 20 December 1939. Later joining first Deadalus for service with No. 763 Squadron then Condor on 10 July 1940, he was finally posted as Chief Petty Officer to Edinburgh Castle on 26 May 1943. Butcher died on 9 May 1962 while living at 49 Orafton Road; sold together with copied research comprising a photograph, medal rolls and service papers as well as a 1911 census, probate valuation and Petty Officers Record of Service.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£130

Starting price
£130