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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 366

(x) Five: Yeoman of Signals A. I. Tuitt, Royal Australian Navy, late Royal Navy who was serving aboard H.M.S. Encounter when she fired the first shells of the war for the Royal Australian Navy off Toma, German New Guinea in 1914

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, no clasps (A. Tuitt, Ldg:Siglmn: H.M.S. Sybille); 1914-15 Star (O.N.1582 A. I. Tuitt. Yeo Sig.); British War and Victory Medals (11583 A. I. Tuitt. A-Ch. Yeo. Sigs. R.A.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (Alwyne I. Tuitt Yeo.Sig., H.M.A.S: Cerberus), contact wear and light edge bruising, very fine overall (5)

One of 187 no-clasp medals to the ship.

Alwyne Isadore Tuitt was born at Kentish Town, London on 8 May 1879 and attested on 15 June 1894 with the rank of Boy Class II. He reached his majority in May 1897 with H.M.S. Hood and was appointed Leading Signalman in January 1899.

Joining the crew of H.M.S. Sybille on 9 October 1900 he served with them on the Cape Station during the Anglo-Boer War before leaving on 25 February 1901. Appointed Yeoman of Signals on 1 November 1905 he finally joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 8 May 1909.

Re-attesting at Melbourne for the Royal Australian Navy on 4 April 1912 Tuitt was appointed Yeoman of Signals. He entered the Great War in that rank before being posted to H.M.A.S. Encounter on 21 April 1914, soon afterwards he was present for the capture of the German steamer Zambezi on 12 August 1914. Arriving in New Guinea Encounter provided fire support to the Australian troops laying siege to Toma, the shells the fired were the first shots of the war for the Royal Australian Navy.

Tuitt went ashore on 8 January 1915 and remained there for much of the war, finally joining Parramatta on 31 January 1917 for convoy protection work in the Mediterranean. He later removed to Swan as Acting Chief Yeoman of Signals on 23 August 1918 and was still with her when she participated in the Second Battle of Durazzo in October 1918.

Transferred to the Reserve after the war as Chief Petty Officer Instructor on 6 August 1919, at R.A.N.R. Cerberus (Port Adelaide) he served there until 5 August 1931; sold together with two original service records.

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

Sold for
£650

Starting price
£130