A Great War single Victory Medal and Middlesex Schools Eton College Medal for Regular Attendance pair awarded to Officers Steward 2nd Class Sidney Payne, Royal Navy, who in 1903, as a school boy at St Stephen’s School in Paddington, London, gained a regular attendance medal, before going on to see service through the Great War, he having been a cook before joining, he became an Officers Steward, and was aboard the destroyer H.M.S Landrail with the Harwich Force at the Battle of Dogger Bank on 24 January 1915. Both medals are housed in bespoke cases.
Victory Medal; (L.5678 S. PAYNE. O.S.2. R.N.), this with original length of ribbon, and housed in an old jewellers case, this bearing the recipient’s initials in gothic gilt letters ’S.P.’ on the outer case.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine.
Together with the recipient’s Middlesex Schools Eton College Medal for Regular Attendance, pewter, unnamed as issued, complete with its original suspension, ribbon, and top pin mount, housed in its fitted presentation case, the outer case being embossed in gold letters ’S. Stephen’s Schools Paddington W. - Sidney Payne - Standard II. 1903.’
Sidney Payne was born on 17 August 1905 in Paddington, London, and as a school boy, was awarded the Middlesex Schools Eton College Medal for Regular Attendance when being educated through St Stephen’s School in Paddington. This is now the St Mary Magdalene & St Stephen’s Church of England Primary School located at Rowington Close, Warwick Estate, Paddington.
Payne became a cook, and owing to the outbreak of the Great War, then joined the Royal Navy as an Officers Steward 3rd Class (Chatham No.L.5678) with Pembroke I on 1 October 1914. Operating from the depot ship Dido, he saw service aboard the destroyer H.M.S Landrail from 1 December 1914 as part of the Harwich Force. Payne was aboard her until 1 April 1915, and as such was present at the Battle of Dogger Bank on 24 January 1915. He was also involved in submarine hunting aboard her.
Payne was aboard the battleship H.M.S. Dominion between May 1915 and December 1916 when on the Northern Patrol, and was advanced to Officers Steward 2nd Class aboard her on 30 July 1915. He was latter back with Dido and aboard the destroyer Skilful from April 1917 to July 1919, when on further operations in the North Sea. He was demobilised ashore on 1 January 1920.
