*British, WW1 (Jutland) & WW2 Royal Navy Medal Group, J33814 Charles Raymond Rae A.B. R.N. (1899-1971), WW1 The Victory Medal, Great War Medal, LSGC Medal HMS Whiteshed, WW2 1939-45 Star, Atlantic War Medal, Naval GSM with Palastine 1936-39 Clasp (Mine Sweeping), Original Service Papers, Death Certificate, Detailed History, 2 photographs, plus 1914-1915 Star for Pte. T. Rae.*
Charles Rae (known as Chas) was born in Worcester in 1899 the son of a nurseryman. He joined the Royal Navy in 1915 aged 16 and was based in Portsmouth. He served in both world wars and was one of the survivors of the Battle of Jutland in 1916, when he was serving on HMS Valiant. (He was paid the Jutland Bounty in 1921 and in 1925 salvage money for S.S. Firtree sunk in 1918). He joined the navy as a Boy 2nd Class and retired from the navy in 1945, after thirty years of service, as Petty Officer. As a Boy 2nd Class he was a rigger. He died in 1971.
His service record tell us he was 5ft 4″ with a 33″ chest. Later in his career he boxed for the Royal Navy and remained small and wiry to the last. He couldn’t swim when he entered the navy at 16!
Ships he served on:
WW1: Impregnable, Defiance, Vivid, Valiant,
Inter War Years: Victory, Vivid, Dauntless, Diomede, Cormorant, Vernon, Tamar II, Dolphin, Cyclops, Cormorant
WW2: Dunedin, Victory, Daedalus, Excellent, President III
He married Nora Florence Phillips, 4 Nov 1946, they didn’t have any children.
WW1 Medals:
The Victory Medal – J33814 C. R. Rae A.B. R.N. (service record states received 25 March 1924)
The Victory Medal, featuring Victory on the front and the inscription ‘The Great War for Civilization 1914-1919’ on the back, was awarded to those who received the 1914 Star or the 1914–15 Star, and most recipients of the British War Medal. Service eligibility involved entering any theater of war between August 5, 1914, and November 11, 1918, with approximately 5.7 million medals issued.
Great War Medal 1914-1919 – J33814 C. R. Rae A.B. R.N. (service record states received 25 March 1924)
The British War Medal, awarded to those who served in World War I between August 5, 1914, and November 11, 1918, featured King George V on the obverse and St. George defeating Prussianism on the reverse. About 6.39 million Silver versions and 110,000 Bronze versions were awarded.
1914–15 Star – Pte. T.Rae
Whilst Charles Rae was enlisted in April 1915 he was not serving in a theatre of war and was not entitled to a WW1 Star, the 1914-1915 Star is named to Pte. T.Rae. The 1914–15 Star, awarded to officers and men who served in any theatre of World War I during 1914 and 1915, was never given alone and was accompanied by the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Interwar:
The Long Service Good Conduct Medal – J33814 C. R. Rae, A. B. H.M.S. Whitshed. (Victory) (service record states received 10 July 1932)
The Long Service Good Conduct Medal, King George V Version 1, was given to personnel with fifteen years of service and three good conduct badges.
WW2 Medals:
Naval General Service Medal with Palestine 1936-1939 – J33814 C. R. Rae, A.B. R.N. (service record states received 11 Aug 1941)
The Naval General Service Medal (1915 NGSM) was instituted in 1915 to recognise service by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in minor campaigns that would not otherwise earn a specific campaign medal. The 1915 NGSM was never awarded without a clasp. Palestine 1936–39 (13,600 awarded). For service during the uprising by Palestinian Arabs.
The Atlantic Star
This is probably the rarest of the “Star” medals. The Atlantic Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for award to British Commonwealth forces who took part in the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous campaign of the Second World War. It was mainly for those who were part of shipping convoys, a mission that many did not come back from. It was also for those who were their escorts and anti-submarine people. The requirement was twelve months of service afloat or four months of airborne service.
1939-1945 British War Medal
The British War Medal, awarded to full-time armed forces personnel, is granted in addition to campaign stars and the Defence Medal, with ribbon colors representing the Union Jack.
1939-1945 Star
The 1939–1945 Star, instituted on 8 July 1943, recognizes service in the Second World War for British and Commonwealth forces.
Original Parchment Certificate of Service in the Royal Navy – J33814
Death Certificate – Certified Copy
2 Photographs with family notes written on the back.
Detailed family history plus a photocopy of his marriage certificate.
*Condition*
Excellent used condition. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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