Item #GB7012
Baltic Medal 1854-1855; Crimea Medal 1954-1856, 1 Clasp - SEBASTOPOL (W.J. LABETT, SIG. H.M.S "ARETHUSA"); and Turkish Crimea Medal (W.J. LABETT. H.M.S. "ARETHUSA".). Naming is engraved on the two Crimean medals, the naming inverted on the Crimea Medal, the Baltic Medal is un-named as issued. Un-mounted, edge nicks on all three medals, both Crimean Medals exhibiting contact marks, the Baltic Medal with an original ribbon, the two Crimean medals with replacement ribbons, near very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Service Records and Re-enlistment Papers, along with the Medal Roll for recipients of the Baltic Medal with HMS Centaur.
Footnote: William John Labett was born on July 17, 1826 in Gosford, Oxfordshire, England. He enlisted with the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class, his initial service with HMS Blenheim. He then served as a Signalman aboard the 50-gun fourth-rate sailing frigate HMS Arethusa from July 4, 1851 to January 15, 1855, a period of forty-two months, in the ranks of Boy 2nd Class and Boy 1st Class, earning him the Crimea Medal with Sebastopol clasp. This was subsequently followed by twenty-eight months' service with the wooden paddle frigate HMS Centaur from January 16, 1855 to May 2, 1857 in the ranks of Boy 1st Class, Ordinary Seaman and Able Seaman. His later service included both HMS Sphinx and HMS Hastings and it was while he was with the latter that he re-enlisted for an additional seven years' service on March 9, 1858.