Correctly named 15 Star LZ448 WJ Hart PO RNVR
Correctly named Pair LZ448 WJ Hart CPO RNVR
William John Hart was born to William and Maria in March 1894, London.
We find the family in 1911 living at the Fire House, Chatham Road, Wandsworth where Willam Snr is the Station Officer. William Jnr is working as a junior clerk in a stockbrokers.
He enlists with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve and is attached first to Benbow Battalion in March 1915 in Blandford Barracks. He later joins Anson Battalion in June 1915 and is serving overseas in Gallipoli.
We see he is wounded in December 1915, a shell-wound/slight gunshot wound to the scalp and admitted to hospital in Cape Helles.
After his recovery, he embarked HMT Minnewaska bound for Marseilles and lands there in May 1916.
He is initially sent to become an instructor at Anson Battalion No2 Training Camp.
We see by May 1917, he has returned to the field where he is again wounded. This time he received gunshot wounds to his right arm, back, face and right thigh. He is returned to the UK aboard HS Western Australia.
Again he returns to the field of duty in April 1918 but is sent back to the UK for commission. Whilst undergoing training to become an officer, he is attached to both the Worcestershire and Essex Regiments respectively.
He is promoted to Senior Petty Officer in May 1918.
In October 1918, because of his wounds, he is deemed medically unfit to become an officer.
He was struck off strength in April 1919.
In 1921 he married Anne Beatrice Small and it is recorded he is now a Police Officer.
In 1939, living at 46 Holme Lacey Road, Lewisham, we see he is now a police sergeant.
William died in 1955.
Original ribbons are included, they are in un-used condition.
We would think William would be entitled to a Defence Medal for wartime service with the Metropolitan Police.
We were lucky to find an image of William online.