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Auction: 24113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 560

(x) Five: Officer's Cook 1st Class S. L. Spurgeon, Royal Navy

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Atlantic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (L.14364 S.L. Spurgeon. O.C.1. H.M.S. Courageous.), second and third letters of ship's name officially re-impressed, mounted as worn, overall very fine (5)

Sidney Leonard Spurgeon was born on 6 January 1903 at Colchester, Essex and was a baker by trade prior to his enlistment with the Royal Navy on 10 April 1923 for a period of 12 years. A few years into his service, he was married to Florence Ada Carlo on 14 August 1926 at St Leonards Church in Hythe Hill, Colchester. Spurgeon went on to serve with a variety of both sea vessels and shore establishments around the world, including aboard the admiralty yacht Enchantress.

On 8 May 1933, he reengaged for a further 10-year period. He later received his L.S. & G.C. medal on 5 May 1938 whilst aboard the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Courageous, with whom he had been serving during her coronation review in May 1937 but luckily left before she was sunk in 1939. Accompanying photographs reveal he was serving in Australia in 1945. His wife Florence died at age 46 at their home on Old Heath Road in Colchester in 1949 and Spurgeon himself later died aged 76 on 7 March 1979 whereupon he was residing at 2 Faulds Walk, Abbots Road, Colchester.

Sold together with an album of photographs that highlight the breadth of Spurgeon's overseas service. It contains photos of a variety of places including Athens, Copenhagen, Sydney, Jamaica, Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland) and the United States (South Carolina and Maine). The album also features personal photographs of Spurgeon with friends and family, as well as many interesting photos of his life as a cook in the Royal Navy, including photos of some ships with whom he served. The album also contains a personal Christmas card from Vice-Admiral Sir Vernon Haggard and a number of newspaper clippings; further sold together with copied research.

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

Sold for
£90

Starting price
£70