WW1 British War & Victory Medal pair, SS7110 E.E. Smith, Royal Navy, HMS Vanguard & Renown

WW1 British War Medal and Victory Medal pair, named to SS7110 Edward Edgar Smith, Royal Navy. Full entitlement, in great condition, with the original box.

Edward was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, on 31 March 1898. He joined the Royal Navy in April 1916 aged 18, served in the Grand Fleet battleship HMS Vanguard just after Jutland, then spent the rest of the war on the new battlecruiser HMS Renown.

Service record

• Name: Edward Edgar Smith, SS7110, Ordinary Seaman, Royal Navy
• Born: 31 March 1898, Sheffield, Yorkshire
• Occupation: cycle mechanic (entry partly crossed out, with another trade written over it)
• Description: 5 ft 5¾ in, 35 in chest, black hair, hazel eyes, fresh complexion
• Marks: two moles on the neck, scar on the left thumb
• Engagement: 4 April 1916, for 5 years in the Navy and 7 in the reserve
• Port division: Portsmouth

His service

• Victory (Portsmouth barracks), 4 April to 11 June 1916. Basic training as an Ordinary Seaman.
• HMS Vanguard, 12 June to 15 August 1916. A Grand Fleet battleship. He joined just after Jutland and left eleven months before she blew up at Scapa Flow in July 1917.
• Victory, 16 August to 11 September 1916
• HMS Renown, 12 September 1916 to 20 October 1920. A new battlecruiser, where he served for the rest of the war. Rated Able Seaman on 27 July 1917.
• Victory, 21 October to 22 November 1920
• Dryad (navigation school, Portsmouth), 23 November 1920 to 18 March 1921
• Victory, 19 March to 29 July 1921, then discharged ashore
• Royal Fleet Reserve: joined 30 July 1921 as Po.B/13663 (an earlier number, Po.B/13503, is crossed out)

Conduct

• Character rated Very Good every year, ability Satisfactory.
• First good conduct badge awarded 4 April 1919, after three years' good service.