A former Mountain Gunner's Tibet Campaign & Great War 'Mysterious Naval Casualty' medal group of 3: Deck Hand William Crisp, Royal Naval Reserve late 7th Mountain Battery Royal Garrison Artillery

- Tibet Medal 1903-04. Silver issue with clasp 'Gyantse' (5480 Gunr. W. Crisp 7th Mtn. By. R.G.A.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (480DA W. Crisp. D.H. R.N.R.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (480DA W. Crisp. D.H. R.N.R.)

Great War Casualty - Lost at Sea: The extant Great War Royal Naval Reserve service papers of Deck Hand William Crisp, H.M.T. Silicia are have the below entry:

Quote (BT 377/7/46958),

Disappeared from H.M.Trawler "Silicia" on 1st February 1916. Death presumed to have occurred on that date

Unquote.

Deck Hand William Crisp's body was never recovered from the sea, in which he drowned. The life and sacrifice of William Crisp is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission where his name and service details are commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial

H.M.T. SILICIA: Was a hired Admiralty Trawler (Admiralty No. 60). Built in 1913, and registered in the port of Grimsby - GY.809 - the vessel had a gross tonnage of 250grt. Armed with a single 6pdr Anti-Aircraft Gun, the vessel served as a 'Minesweeper' and was manned by a crew drawn from the Royal Naval Reserve

Medals and clasp verification: In addition to the campaign medals here offered for sale, William Crisp was further entitled to a 1914-15 Star. The recipients medal and clasp entitlements are confirmed per the below cited sources including medal rolls

- Tibet Medal 1903-04. 'Gyantse': Recorded in recipients extant service papers (WO97 file series)
- 1914-15 Star: ADM 171/120 shown as forwarded to the Widow
- British War Medal. Silver issue: ADM 71/120 shown as forwarded to the Widow
- Interallied Victory Medal: ADM 171/120 shown as forwarded to the recipients Widow

William Crisp, son of William and Joanna Crisp was a native of, Raveningham, near Loddon, Norfolk, England, where he was born on 18 May 1874. Prior to enlisting in the British Army at Aldershot, Hampshire, England, on, 29 August 1894 (on which date he claimed to be 20 years of age), William Crisp - a strapping individual who was 6 feet and 1 inch in height - had been employed as a 'Labourer'. On joining the British Army, William was posted to the Royal Regiment of Artillery. William's subsequent record of service included:

- Home: 29/08/1894-12/01/1896 (1 year 137 days)
- India: 13/01/1896-08/12/1906 (10 years 330 days)
- Home: 09/12/1906 10/12/1906 (2 days)

After taking his discharge from the British Army, William Crisp returned to the United Kingdom, and by 1913, is recorded living in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England. William married Clara Lill at Grimsby, on 23 July 1913. He enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve on 8 August 1914, at which time he was recorded residing with his wife Clara Crisp at, 39 Taylor Street, Grimsby. On enrolment William was described as having tattoos, comprising, 'Horseshoe hand and rose on rt forearm, Hands across the sea on left forearm'

The recipients British Army and Royal Naval Reserve service papers are extant and accessible at the National Archives

Condition: GVF

Code: 24345