Chilcotts
Lot 581
Medals; an M.B.E. group of eight medals awarded to Lt. Commander George William Bird, Royal Navy, comprising The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military); 1914-15 Star (M.4937 G. W. Bird. E.R.A.3., R.N.); British War Medal 1914-1918 (M.4937 G. W. Bird. E.R.A.3., R.N.); Victory Medal (M.4937 G. W. Bird. E.R.A.3., R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; and Jubilee 1935, and a mounted set of four miniature dress medals and a Edward Albert Prince of Wales 1925 Argentina commemorative medallion, inscribed "Visita a la Republica Argentina - Agosto 1925", together with another medallion inscribed "Visum Visu", an album entitled "World Cruise of the British Special Service Squadron 1923-1924" containing black and white photographs, service book 1923-1946, a photograph of crew of H.M.S. Dainty in China 1936/38, newspaper cutting and associated photocopies of commissions, etc (a lot) George William Bird, who spent his retirement years in Teignmouth, Devon, had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, seeing service in both World Wars. He was born in the Royal Marine Barracks at Deal in 1890, the son of the Colour Sergeant there. He served an apprenticeship as an engine fitter in Sheerness Dockyard and later joined the Navy as an engine room artificer, rising through the ranks to Lieutenant Commander. During W.W.1 his ship was involved in the Battle of the Dogger Bank. In 1923, he went on a world cruise by Navy ships, being then warrant officer on H.M.S. Repulse. In 1925, his ship took the then Prince of Wales, on a tour of South America. Lt. Commander was later awarded the M.B.E. in recognition of his work in maintaining convoy escorts during the Battle of the Atlantic in W.W.2. He died in 1979.
