War Medals

271537 G.H. LANGFORD, CERA.1CL., ROYAL NAVY : SERVED IN YANGTSE RIVER GUNBOATS

1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal 1914-19 (271537 CERA.2 RN.); Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, GVR., Admiral's bust obverse (271537 CERA. 2Cl. HMS 'Teal') : (GEORGE HENRY LANGFORD - Born 20 March 1882 at Hammersmith, London, a fitter and turner by trade when he joined the Royal Navy at HMS. 'Pembroke' on 27 February 1904 as Acting Engine Room Artificer. For the first two years of his service he was drafted to a series of shore establishments and depot ships and was advanced to ERA. 4Class, but on 15 November 1905 he was posted to the Torpedo Gunboat HMS. 'Skipjack'. He later served in the cruisers, 'Skirmisher' and 'Leander' and was advanced to ERA. 3Class. On 11 February 1911 he joined 'Orontes' the Depot Ship for Torpedo Boats and Destroyers at Malta, and was advanced to ERA. 2Class from 17 April 1911. He subsequently served both at sea in numerous ships and at various shore establishments and was advanced to Acting Chief ERA. 2Class from 1 June 1914. He moved to HMS. 'Ocean' on 2 August 1914 and was serving in that ship at the outbreak of war. In February 1915 he was present in 'Ocean' during the bombardment of the Turkish forts guarding the Dardanelles and was also present when on 18 March 1915, 'Ocean' struck a mine. All the crew were taken off by destroyers and the crippled 'Ocean' was abandoned and left to drift into Morto Bay, where still under enemy fire it sank. The recipient was advanced to Chief ERA. Class2 from 1 June 1915 and continued to serve both at sea and on shore. From 17 March 1917 he was posted to the China Fleet where he served in HMS. 'Tamar', the Depot Ship at Hong Kong. From 13 December 1917 he served in HMS. 'Snipe' and from 19 May 1918 in HMS. 'Teal', two river gunboats deployed on the Yangtse River. In 1919 he returned to England and was posted to the light cruiser HMS. 'Pomone' in which he was advanced to Chief ERA. Class1. His final ship was the light cruiser HMS. 'Concord' in which he served with the Mediterranean Fleet until taking early retirement on 19 September 1922 and was Shore Pensioned from 6 October 1922.) : Sold with verification, copy Service Record, copy Census Record and related research. A rare Long Service & Good Condcut Medal to a China Station River Gunboat NEF- EF - £485