Campaign Groups and Pairs

A Great War group of three awarded to Engineer Lieutenant-Commander W. A. Horton, Royal Navy, who served as Second Engineer in the Royal Research Ship Terra Nova during Captain R. F. Scott’s last Antarctic Expedition, 1910-13, being presented with his Silver Medal by H.M. the King in 1913. Following the Great War Horton served as Chief Engineer in R.R.S. Discovery and Discovery II, and at the time of his death held the record for the number of Antarctic voyages completed, having spent no fewer than ten seasons, including winter voyages, in the Antarctic 1914-15 Star (Art. Eng. W. A. Horton. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Eng. Lt. W. A. Horton. R.N.) minor traces of verdigris to VM, othewise very fine and better (3) £500-£700 --- William Ault Horton was born in Derby on 14 January 1883, and joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 7 June 1904. Advanced Engine Room Artificer Second Class on 12 January 1910, he transferred to the Royal Research Ship Terra Nova for service with the British National Antarctic Expedition on 25 January 1912, and served as Second Engineer of the Terra Nova during Captain R. F. Scott’s final and celebrated Antarctic Expedition. Promoted Acting Artificer Engineer on 1 September 1914, Horton served during the Great War, and was promoted Engineer Lieutenant. Following the cessation of hostilities he was advanced Engineer Lieutenant-Commander and resumed his Antarctic Research Work, spending ten seasons, including winter voyages, in the Antarctic, as Chief Engineer in Discovery and Discovery II from 1925 to 1937. He died in November 1939; at the time of his death he held the record for the number of Antarctic voyages completed. For his services in the Antarctic Horton was awarded the Polar Medal in Silver with clasp Antarctic 1910-13 (London Gazette 25 July 1913), receiving this medal from the hands of H.M. King George V on 26 July 1913. For his services in Discovery and Discovery II 1925-37 he was posthumously awarded the clasp Antarctic 1925-37 in bronze (London Gazette 7 October 1941). Uniquely (presumably owing to an oversight at the time), Horton was issued the clasp only for the second award, rather than being awarded it attached to a separate bronze medal; consequently his silver medal is the only Polar Medal that carries this combination of clasps. Sold with copied research.