Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

A Great War O.B.E. group of five awarded to Lieutenant F. Terrill, Royal Navy, who was serving in H.M.S. Cornwallis when she was torpedoed and sunk by U32 on 9 January 1917, and was awarded the O.B.E. whilst serving on the Staff of the Senior Naval Officer, Gibraltar The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge,silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (208946. F. Terrill., Lg. Sea. H.M.S. Proserpine.) minor official corrections to rate and ship; 1914-15 Star (Mate F. Terrill. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. F. Terrill. R.N.) good very fine, the rank on the Star scarce (5) £300-£400 --- O.B.E. London Gazette 17 July 1919: ‘For valuable services on the Staff of the Senior Naval Officer, Gibraltar.’ Frank Terrill was born at Portsea, Hampshire, on 15 September 1884 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 12 March 1900. He was advanced Able Seaman on 1 September 1903, and joined H.M.S. Proserpine on 1 June 1910, being advanced Leading Seaman on 22 August 1910. He was promoted Petty Officer on 1 January 1914. Following the outbreak of the Great War Terrill was sent for Officer training on 5 November 1914. His first appointment was to H.M.S. Newmarket, probably simply for transit to Gallipoli, where he was landed on ‘’A’’ beach at Suvla Bay, where it seems he served until invalided to the Royal Naval Hospital Malta. His 1914-15 Star is named in the unusual rank of Mate. Upon leaving hospital Terrill was sent to H.M.S. Cornwallis and was onboard when she was torpedoed and sunk by U32 on 9 January 1917. He subsequently served in H.M.S. Birmingham for a short time before being found fit for shore service only (with glasses) in May 1917. Subsequently posted to the Staff of the Senior Naval Officer, Gibraltar for duty with patrol vessels and to supervise and inspect all merchant ship armaments, it was for this service that he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He retired on medical grounds on 4 November 1921, and died on 19 June 1949. Sold with copied record of service.