Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Royal Fleet Reserve 1934-36

Awarded to Alexander Alfred Reeves, RN (1899-1965). Obverse: Head of King George V (left). Legend: 'GEORGIVS V BRITT : OMN ; REX ET IND : IMP:' Reverse: Starboard broadside view of the battleship Deadnought. Legend: 'DIUTERNE FIDELIS'. Inscription on edge: 'J.48882 (CH.B.20814) A.A.REEVES L.S. R.F.R.' Fitted with a ring and blue ribbon with a scarlet stripe on either side, edged with white.

Alexander Alfred Reeves was born in Walthamstow, Essex the son of Alfred Joseph Reeves, cabinet maker. He entered the Royal Navy as a boy seaman in 1916. After finishing his training, he was rated Ordinary Seaman on 12 April 1917 and joined HMS 'Highflyer' the following day. He was rated Able Seaman on 1 February the following year. 'Highflyer' was deployed on convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic. She provided the escort for HS1 - the first convoy from Canada to Britain and was in Halifax during the explosion of 6 December 1917 which destroyed much of the city. 'Highflyer's' crew were involved in relief work.
After the war, Reeves remained in the navy, being promoted Leading Seaman in 1925. In 'Royal Oak' from 1 April 1927 to 19 November 1928, his ship was the scene of an embarrassing feud between two of her senior officers- Captain Kenneth Dewar and Commander Henry Daniel. In 1929 Reeves joined the Royal Fleet Reserve. He was mobilised on 28 September 1938 and was released again ten days later. He had married Dorothy Hilda Bass in 1936 and by 1939 he had found work as a postman in Leyton, Essex. He died in Kingston upon Thames aged 65.

Object Details

ID: MED1803
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: Long service award
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Mackennal, Edgar Bertram; Gillick, Ernest George
Date made: 1934
People: Reeves, Alexander Alfred
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm
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