{"product_id":"british-war-victory-medal-imperial-service-medal-cecil-martin-darvill-stoker-in-the-royal-navy-royal-air-force-air-ministry-original-service-records-served-on-hms-sportive-in-black-sea-operations-including-evacuation-from-odessa-1920","title":"British War, Victory Medal \u0026 Imperial Service Medal - CECIL MARTIN DARVILL – ‘STOKER’ in the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force \u0026 Air Ministry + original service records - Served on HMS SPORTIVE in BLACK SEA operations, including EVACUATION FROM ODESSA 1920","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eStock Reference – MM-MED-0069\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eBritish War Medal, Victory Medal, Imperial Service Medal group - awarded to CECIL MARTIN DARVILL – Long-service career as ‘STOKER’ with the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force \u0026amp; Air Ministry (RAF) - complete with original service records + other documentation – Served on HMS SPORTIVE during BLACK SEA operations, including the EVACUATION FROM ODESSA 1920\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eYou are looking at an interesting WW1 medal pair, British War Medal and Victory Medal, and a post-1952 (Queen ELIZABETH II) Imperial Service Medal awarded to CECIL MARTIN DARVILL, who served as a ‘stoker’ with the Royal Navy from the end of WW1 and was a crewmember aboard ‘HMS Sportive’ during the Black Sea operations of 1919\/20, including the ship’s involvement in the evacuation of Russian civilians and troops from Odessa.....CECIL went on to serve as a ‘stoker’ in the Royal Air Force and continued his employment as a ‘stoker’ in civilian life, working with the Air Ministry’s Works and Buildings Department, later the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works, at the same RAF station he was employed at previously, and for this service he received the Imperial Service Medal.....These 3 x medals are accompanied by CECIL’S original Royal Navy and Royal Air Force service records, and other associated documents.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eThis listing is made up of the following items:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 42.55pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eBritish War Medal – ‘S.S.118479 C.M.DARVILL. STO.2 R.N.’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 42.55pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eVictory Medal - \u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eS.S.118479 C.M.DARVILL. ACT. STO.1. R.N.’ - \u003ci\u003e*****NOTE – Different inscription to the BWM*****\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 42.55pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eImperial Service Medal (Queen ELIZABETH II) – ‘CECIL MARTIN DARVILL’......In original box of issue\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 42.55pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eRoyal Navy document – ‘Certificate of the Service of CECIL MARTIN DARVILL in the Royal Navy’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 42.55pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eRoyal Navy document - ‘Qualifications in Stoker Ratings’ in the name CECIL M DARVILL\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 42.55pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eRoyal Air Force document – ‘Certificate of the Service and Discharge of CECIL MARTIN DARVILL\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 42.55pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eRoyal Air Force document – ‘Royal Air Force – Statement on Discharge of an Airman’s Qualifications and Employment’ for CECIL MARTIN DARVILL- Dated 9\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e September 1927.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 42.55pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eDocument – ‘Notification of Selection for Established Appointment for Power House Duties’ addressed to LAC 357598 DARVILL – Dated 24\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e June 1927.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 42.55pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eDocument – Letter to LAC 357598 DARVILL accompanying his RAF Certificate of Service and Qualification Sheet – Dated 10\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of September 1927.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 42.55pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eDocument – Letter addressed to C M DARVILL confirming his appointment as ‘Established Stoker’ from the 26\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of August 1927 – Dated 15\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e December 1928.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 42.55pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eBlue ‘Certificate of Service and Discharge – Royal Air Force’ envelope addressed to Mr C.M.DARVILL, 4 The Crescent, West Mill. Hitchen, Hertfordshire – Stamped and dated 1928\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis is an unusual but interesting group which combines post-WW1 Royal Navy service during the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War, followed by RAF service, then a long civilian career with the Air Ministry.....Of particular interest is CECIL'S documented service aboard HMS Sportive between February 1919 and June 1920, a period which included the ship's involvement in Black Sea operations and her involvement in the dramatic evacuation from Odessa in February 1920. Original service and other documentation is included, allowing CECIL’S career to be followed from the Royal Navy through to his eventual award of the Imperial Service Medal.\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eCECIL MARTIN DARVILL, the son of JOSEPH and PALATIA DARVILL, was born at Barnet in Hertfordshire on the 2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e of June 1900.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eHis brother CHARLES JOSEPH DARVILL was killed in action on the 14\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of September 1914, whilst serving in France with the 1\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e Battalion the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.........He was one of those early soldiers to be killed, the first known British soldiers KIA having died on the 21\u003csup\u003est\u003c\/sup\u003e and 22\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e of August, less than 4 x weeks earlier.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eROYAL NAVY \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eCECIL joined the Royal Navy on the 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of June 1918 and was in shore based training on HMS Pembroke until Armistice in the November of that year.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eFrom the 22\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e of February 1919 to the 17\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of June 1920, he served aboard the destroyer \u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e‘HMS Sportive’, that saw service with the 14\u003csup\u003eth \u003c\/sup\u003eDestroyer Flotilla, followed by the 4\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Destroyer Flotilla who set sail for the Mediterranean in March 1919 and was involved in allied operations in the Black Sea during the Russian Civil War, at the end of that year and into 1920.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eDuring the Russian Civil War (1917-1922), and following the Red Army and Bolsheviks overthrowing of the existing Russian Government in the October Revolution, fighting continued to take place between the communist forces and those in opposition to them, including the White Russians as they were known, but at the end of 1919, and following a series of military defeats and with the Red Army advancing, some of the opposing forces, White Russian Troops, their families and others fearing for their safety, started making their way towards Odessa, and in the February of 1920, with the refugee crisis worsening, Royal Navy and other allied warships made their way to the city where they were to assist with the evacuation.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eHMS Sportive was one of a small fleet of warships and other seagoing vessels who were involved in the evacuation of refugees from Odessa. The other British warships were HMS Ajax, HMS Emperor of India, HMS Cardiff and HMS Ceres, and there were 2 x transport ships, HMT Rio Negro and Rio Pardo. On the 6\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of February, HMS Sportive fired its guns at the approaching Russian \/ Bolshevik cavalry, and the following day, the 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of February, along with HMS Ceres, it was in Odessa harbour itself, actively involved in evacuating civilians and soldiers from the quayside \/ dock area, who they then transported to Constantinople, before returning to Odessa on a second occasion to assist in the evacuation of even more refugees.......In fact HMS Sportive alone rescued around 1,500 individuals who, upon fleeing the conflict area, had to endure the cramped and freezing conditions aboard ship on their journey from Odessa to Constantinople.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eCECIL left the Royal Navy on the 9\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of June 1922, and just over a year later, on the 8th of August 1923, he married FLORENCE WINIFRED LEWIS.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eBecause CECIL enlisted late in WW1, he was still in training when the war came to an end in the November of 1918. His subsequent service aboard HMS Sportive, however, took him into the Black Sea during the allied intervention in the Russian Civil War, where it was involved in operations in that area, including, in 1920, action against elements of the Red Army and the evacuation of refugees from Odessa, service for which those involved were entitled to the award of the Victory Medal. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eUnfortunately, the surviving records do not state the precise operation for which the Victory Medal awarded to CECIL was authorised,\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e but the British Government extended the criteria for the award of the medal to include the 1919-20 operations in the Black Sea, and CECIL served aboard \u003c\/span\u003eHMS Sportive from February 1919 to June 1920, and was involved in the Black Sea operations and the Odessa evacuation, and his original \u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eRoyal Navy medal record shows the award of both the British War Medal and Victory Medal to him, the Victory Medal issued at a later date, via the Air Ministry, after he had left the Royal Navy and joined the RAF..........And the fact that the medals were awarded on two separate occasions explains why the medals are inscribed differently, with the BWM inscribed ‘STO.2 R.N.’, the rank he held at the time this award was authorised, and the Victory Medal inscribed ‘ACT. STO.1. R.N.’, the rank he held at the time the later issue of the VM would have been authorised. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eROYAL AIR FORCE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eOn the 8\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of February 1924, CECIL enlisted into the Royal Air Force, as a ‘stoker’, and, as best as can be established \/ deciphered from the handwritten record of service, he appears to have been based at the Electrical Services Works Company, followed by Training Squadron (Uxbridge), then 1 Aircraft Assembly Depot \u0026amp; Repair Depot, later amalgamated into the Home Aircraft Depot (Henlow). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHe was transferred to the RAF Reserve on the 26\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of August 1927, with the document relating to his qualifications and employment with the RAF, detailing how he had been employed for 3 ½ years in Power Station work as a ‘stoker’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eIt appears from the documentation included in this listing, that prior to CECIL leaving the RAF and transferring to the Reserve, he was applying for employment as a civilian ‘stoker’ within the Air Ministry, and his employment as an ‘Established Stoker’ was confirmed with effect from the 26\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of August 1927, with his place of work in the first instance being Henlow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eCECIL effectively left the RAF on the 26\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of August 1927, having served as a ‘stoker’ within the Power Station area\/section, at Henlow, and he commenced his employment as an ‘Established Stoker’, at Henlow, that same day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eHis appointment as a ‘Stoker’ in the Air Ministry Works and Buildings Department was recorded in the London Gazette dated the 3\u003csup\u003erd\u003c\/sup\u003e of August 1928 and the Edinburgh Gazette dated 10\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of August.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eCECIL remained with the Air Ministry Works Department until 1963 when the department was transferred to the newly created ‘Ministry of Public Building and Works’, and it was whilst he was with this new department, in 1966 (possibly 1965), and whilst he was a Foreman Fitter and retiring, that he was awarded the ‘Imperial Service Medal’, with the notification of his award appearing in the London Gazette on the 15\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e of March 1966........He had served for nearly 40 x years in his civilian role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eSELLER NOTE = Supporting documentation obtained and \/ or created during this research will be provided.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maddox Medals \u0026 Militaria ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54913799586138,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1013\/7180\/6042\/files\/Screenshot2026-10-06at10.33.49.png?v=1791279332","url":"https:\/\/maddoxmedals.co.uk\/products\/british-war-victory-medal-imperial-service-medal-cecil-martin-darvill-stoker-in-the-royal-navy-royal-air-force-air-ministry-original-service-records-served-on-hms-sportive-in-black-sea-operations-including-evacuation-from-odessa-1920","provider":"Maddox Medals \u0026 Militaria ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}