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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 140

(x) The campaign group of three awarded to Officer's Steward 2nd Class G. W. Bull, Royal Navy, late Merchant Navy, who served on the 4th Antarctic voyage of the William Scoresby during the Discovery Investigations in October 1934

British War and Victory Medals (L. 8593 G. W. Bull. O.S.2. R.N.); Mercantile Marine War Medal 1914-19 (George W. Bull), good very fine (3)

George William Bull served as an Assistant Steward on the fourth commission of the R.R.S. William Scoresby in the Antarctic.

He was born in Hoxton, London on 31 August 1897. A Merchant Navy steward by trade (Dis. A 795998), he joined the Royal Navy on 7 March 1916 and served aboard the light cruiser Canterbury from 2 May 1916 and saw action almost immediately during the Battle of Jutland.

Promoted Officer's Steward 2nd Class on 9 March 1917, he was discharged on 7 June 1919. Resuming his career in the Merchant Navy, in October 1934 he joined the Discovery Investigations as an Assistant Steward on the R.R.S. William Scoresby. Their seven months at sea was devoted entirely to the marking of whales on the whaling grounds in the Antarctic seas off Queen Mary Land, off Enderby Land and to the south of Bouvet Island. The ship sailed from London and made a direct passage to Simonstown, where final preparations for the work in hand were completed. The ship's personnel, under the executive command of Lieutenant-Commander Boothby, included an experienced Norwegian whale gunner, Captain Endresen, who had charge of the manoeuvring of the vessel whilst hunting and marking whales. The pack ice was encountered on 3 December when seven days out from Cape Town. Whales had been found two days prior and marking began on that date. Bull rejoined for the fifth commission but left before she sailed.

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

Estimate
£300 to £500

Starting price
£240