Description
Meritorious Service Medal Great War group with Long Service and WW1 trio Chief Engine Room Articifer Francis Collett of the Scilly Isles.
Francis Henry Collett was born 15th May 1877 was born at St Marys, Scilly Isles, Cornwall and he was a 22 year old fitter when he initially signed up for 12 years on the 31st October 1899.
He served the majority of the Great War on H.M.S. LAWFORD (depot ships Dido, Blenheim, Dido, Wallington). He joined LAWFORD, 15th April 1914 shortly after its commissioning March 1914. He served on her until 12th December 1917. HMS Lawford was in service for the whole of the First World War. Initially she was part of the Harwich Force, operating in the North Sea and English Channel, and taking part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1914 and the Battle of Dogger Bank in 1915. In September 1915, she transferred to the Mediterranean, taking part in the Gallipoli Campaign before returning to the Harwich Force in June 1916. She took part in the Battle of Dover Strait in October 1916.
He then served on the Commissioning Crew of H.M.S. WOLFHOUND from 26th April 1918 until 31st December 1920 (depot ships Woolwich, Columbine and Sandhurst). She was assigned to the 13th Destroyer Flotilla with the Grand Fleet in May, 1918, and later dispatched to the Baltic Sea. It was there Wolfhound saw service in the British campaign in the Baltic (1918–1919) as a part of a taskforce operating against the Bolshevik Red fleet in the Russian Civil War and the Baltic Wars of Independence. Among her operations included providing training, supply, and bombardment support for the Estonian and Latvian provisional governments throughout the fall and winter of 1918. Afterwards HMS Wolfhound was reassigned to the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in March 1919.
His Meritorious Service Medal is dated on inscription 1st July to 11th November 1918 (Armistice Day). The depot ship of H.M.S. Wolfhound in this period was H.M.S. Columbine (Port Edgar, Firth of Forth). It was delivered to him on Wolfhound, C in C Atlantic Fleet, 29th September 1919.
1939 Census he is living with Clara, his wife. He is listed as a Fitter machine examiner and a retired Chief E.R.A. RN. He died 26th December 1944 whilst living at 47 Ford Hill, Stoke, Devonport. He married Clara Thompson also of St Marys, Scilly Isles in 1904. He joined the United Services Lodge, Hong Kong in 1910.
Medal group comprises – 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal to 269949 F. COLLETT. C.E.R.A. 2. R.N. (1 on pair), Meritorious Service Medal to 269949 F. COLLETT. C.E.R.A. 1 CL. “WOLFHOUND” , 1 JULY – 11 NOV. 1918. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal to 269949 FRANCIS COLLETT. C.E.R.A. 2 CL. H.M.S. DIDO.
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