Naval General Service Medal (G.V.R.) with clasp PERSIAN GULF 1909 – 14, impressed named 146038 E BRIDLE. P.O. 1CL. H.M.S. FOX. It comes with copies of service records and medal rolls.

Petty Officer Ernest Bridle was born on 10/10/1871 in Otterton, Devon, England. A farm labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 7/4/1887. Over the next 33 years he served in a variety of H.M. Ship and shore bases including H.M.S. Fox (protected cruiser of the Astraea class) from 24/6/1908 – 13/7/1910 as a Petty Officer 1st class.

It was whilst serving on Fox that he qualified for the Africa General Service Medal with clasp Somaliland 1908 – 10. At the time the army was busy ashore whilst 6 ships of the R.N. blockaded the Somali coast, Fox being one of them.

Fox was also involved in suppressing slavery and weapon smuggling in the Persian Gulf and qualified for his Naval General Service Medal with clasp Persian Gulf 1909 – 14.

He discharged to shore with a pension and into the Royal Fleet Reserve on 15/1/1914.

Recalled for the Great War on 2/8/1914, he served on H.M.S. Amphitrite (Diadem-class protected cruiser) from 2/8/1914 – 21/6/1915. She was part of the Ninth Cruiser Squadron, serving in the Atlantic. H.M.S. Minerva (Eclipse-class protected cruiser) from 31/10/1915 – 29/11/1917 serving in the China Station 1916, and then to the Indian Ocean and Red Sea in 1917, then off East Africa. H.M.S. London (minelayer) 17/6/1918 – 9/6/1918.

In between sea time he was posted to H.M.S. Defiance (Shore base torpedo school) and H.M.S. Ambrose (Submarine depot ship). He survived the war unscathed and demobilised on 6/3/1919. He died in 1934 in Devonport.

He is also entitled to the Africa General Service Medal with clasp Somalialand 1908 – 10. 1914 – 15 Star, British War and Victory medals.