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HMS Blanche served between January 1901 and June 1902 and was commanded by Commander M T Parks.


Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (J. F. Monatt [sic], Sh. Cpl., HMS Blanche.) large impressed naming;
1914-15 Star (150085 J. F. Mouatt. Sh. Cpl. 1., R.N.);
BWM and VM (150085 J. F. Mouatt. Sh. Cpl1 R.N.) VM officially re-impressed;
Royal Navy LS&GC, VR, narrow suspension, impressed naming (J. F. Mouat [sic]. Sh. Corpl. 2nd. Cl., HMS Lion.)

Approximately 155 (0) Queen’s South Africa Medals awarded to HMS Blanche.

James Francis Mouatt was born in St. James’, London, on 5 March 1865 and joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 5 July 1883. He was discharged on 3 October 1887, and subsequently joined the Royal Navy as a Ship’s Corporal 2nd Class on 10 April 1893. He joined HMS Lion on 27 April 1893, was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 19 July 1893, and was promoted Ship’s Corporal 1st Class on 8 October 1894. Joining HMS Blanche on 25 January 1902, he served in her during the Boer War, and was shore pensioned on 9 July 1905, joining the Royal Fleet Reserve at Chatham on 2 September 1905.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Mouatt was recalled to the service on 2 August 1914, and served during the early months of the Great War in HMS Sutlej, before being invalided out of the service with dyspepsia and defective teeth on 20 May 1915.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (0) (W. J. Hart, Ord., HMS Blanche.);
1914-15 Star (192261. W. J. Hart. A.B. R.N.);
BWM and VM (192261. W. J. Hart. A.B. R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC GV, 1st issue (192261. W. J. Hart. A.B. HMS Vivid.)

William John Hart was born at Letheringham, Suffolk, on 18 March 1879, and was a greengrocer by trade when he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 11 January 1897. He signed on for 12 Years C.S. on 18 March 1897. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman in July 1897, and joined Blanche on 20 November 1900, seeing service off the coast of Africa to earn his QSA He was advanced to Able Seaman in the same ship in 1 October 1901.

He was awarded his LS&GC medal whilst in Vivid in March 1912 and joined Thunderer in June 1912. He returned briefly to Vivid in March 1914 until joining Thunderer again in April 1914 and remained in this ship until March 1919.