MARCONI OPERATOR WW1 TORPEDO ATTACK SURVIVOR MEDAL TO LT CASWALL. R.N.V.R.

Offered is a WW1 British War Medal, impressed named LT. H. CASWALL. R.N.V.R. Comes with copy service papers, medal roll, Naval Lists.

Lieutenant Herbert Caswall was a pre war radio officer working for the Marconi Company. He was granted a temporary commission with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve 8/5/1916 and posted to the S.S. Demerara as the W/T Officer. He served on her until 28/10/1918 landing England 19/2/1919 and then for home service under the Marconi Company until 12/5/1919 when his commission was cancelled.

Note: The medal roll shows that he is only entitled to the British War Medal. He was issued his medal 4/6/42.

S.S. Demerara was built 1912 for the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co., Belfast. On the 1/7/1917 it was doing the run from Liverpool - Buenos Aires when it was torpedoed by the U.84, 6 miles W of Sables d’Olonne. The ship was beached, but was re floated and repaired. I person was killed during the attack.

Of interest on his records as a Marconi employee: Promotion to Lt does not apply to Marconi employees & further note ‘Change of appointment will be considered when relief available’.

Marconi Radio operators.

Immediately on the outbreak of war the Admiralty took steps to secure the services of Marconi operators for all branches of the service. In answer to the Government’s call there came an army of lads and young men from all classes who had gone from school to the Marconi Marine Company, in whose offices they had trained in Morse and the operation and maintenance of wireless apparatus. These at once volunteered their services to the Admiralty and the War Office,

Every ship that arrived at a British port with a wireless operator on board brought a volunteer to the Admiralty. These men were taken in their hundreds from the Merchant Navy and distributed as quickly as possible among ships of war of all types from the battleship to the armed trawlers.