Four: Chief Petty Officer W.J. Criddle, Royal Navy, 1914-15 Star (138858 C.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf (138858 C.P.O., R.N.); Naval Long Service and Good Conduct, E.VII.R. (138858 Act. C.P.O., H.M.S. Hebe), generally good very fine and better (4)

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Details

Four: Chief Petty Officer W.J. Criddle, Royal Navy, 1914-15 Star (138858 C.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaf (138858 C.P.O., R.N.); Naval Long Service and Good Conduct, E.VII.R. (138858 Act. C.P.O., H.M.S. Hebe), generally good very fine and better (4)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

Chief Petty Officer William Joseph Criddle was born in Cornwall in April 1870 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in April 1888. Enjoying numerous seagoing appointments over the next two decades, he was advanced to Chief Petty Officer in July 1907, the year in which he received his L.S. and G.C. Medal, and pensioned ashore in April 1910. Recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Criddle joined the Ship's Company of H.M.S. Prince George and went on to distinguish himself in the Dardanelles operations, being Mentioned in Despatches for 'good services in action at Gallipoli' (London Gazette 15.5.1916 refers). Sadly, he did not survive to learn of his honour, having succumbed to enteric on 27.1.1916.