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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 835

(x) Four: Commander W. I. L. Legg, Straits Settlements Royal Naval Reserve attached Royal Australian Navy, late Royal Air Force and 10th (Liverpool Scottish) Battalion, Liverpool Regiment, who had an impressive career covering all three services

1939-45 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Coronation 1937 (Lieut. W. I. L. Legg. S.S. R.N.V.R.), engraved naming, some contact marks, very fine (4)

William Ivor Lionel Legg was born on 10 May 1897 and lived at Bennison Drive, Liverpool prior to enlisting as with the 10th (Liverpool Scottish) Battalion as a Private with the service number 5169. Applying for training as an Officer Cadet on 1 August 1917 he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with the 8th Battalion, Liverpool Regiment. Seconded to the Royal Air Force, Legg was posted to a training school on 30 September 1918 but unfortunately ill-health prevented his seeing any active flying and he spent the next few months in Central Hospital, Lichfield, still being there when the war ended (British War and Victory Medals).

Commissioned Lieutenant in the Territorials in February 1919, he served at first with the Liverpool Regiment before joining the Unemployed List in October. Legg resigned his commission the next day (25 August 1920) retaining the rank of Lieutenant. Sometime later he rejoined the Reserves although in a different branch of the service, as Sub-Lieutenant in the Straits Settlements Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in April 1936. Promoted Lieutenant in May 1937 Legg attended the Coronation of H.M. King George VI and received a Coronation Medal as a result.

Appointed Training Commander of the Straits Settlements R.N.V.R. with seniority from September 1939, he was further promoted Lieutenant-Commander. Mobilised for service in September 1940 Legg lucky to be evacuated from the fall of Singapore in February 1942, being taken to Australia and retained there for service with the Royal Australian Navy.

Transferred to the Royal Australian Naval Reserve in June 1942 he was based largely ashore in Brisbane and Queensland. Serving in various roles including Senior Naval Liaison Officer at Air HQ, Brisbane, Assistant Staff Officer (operations) and later in 1944 Temporary Acting Commander of the gunboat H.M.S. Tarantula. Legg was released from active service in April 1946 having seen out the final year of the war at H.M.S. Bherunda, a Royal Naval Air Station at Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka); sold together with a copied biographical note, M.I.C., and medal roll as well as R.A.F. service papers and a copied Navy List.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£120

Starting price
£60