Great War Dardanelles Campaign battleship operations and long service group awarded to Master-at-Arms W.T. Abbott, Royal Navy. From Stoke Newington, London, he saw service between May 1900 and February 1923. By the outbreak of the war he was aboard the battleship Lord Nelson, aboard which vessel he would receive his long service medal. With this warship he participated in the Dardanelles Campaign, and was present during the period when she was the flagship of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron, which was later redesignated the Aegean Squadron. He was part of the first crew of the newly commissioned heavy cruiser Hawkins in July 1919, and was with her during her initial period of service as the flagship of the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron on the China Station.
Group of 4: 1914-1915 Star; (208580, W.T. ABBOTT. SH. CPL.1., R.N.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (208580 W.T. ABBOTT. M.A.A. R.N.); Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, GVR Adm. bust; (208580. W.T. ABBOTT, SH. CPL. 1CL. H.M.S. LORD NELSON.)
Condition: light contact wear, about Good Very Fine.
William Thomas Abbott was born on 3 February 1883 in Stoke Newington, London, and having worked as a shop assistant, then joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class (Chatham No.208580) with Northampton on 5 February 1900, being rated as a Boy 1st Class whilst with Curacoa on 5 May 1900, and was then with the torpedo cruiser Archer when he was rated as an Ordinary Seaman on 3 February 1901 and as an Able Seaman on 1 July 1902. During this period Archer was out on the Australia Station.
Abbott was advanced to Leading Seaman whilst with Pembroke I on 17 May 1904, and was promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class on 22 July 1905 whilst with Victory I. Appointed to Ships Corporal 1st Class whilst with the cruiser Bedford on 7 March 1910, he was aboard the battleship Lord Nelson on the outbreak of the Great War, and remained aboard her through to September 1917. During this period his vessel was initially the flagship of the Channel Squadron, but was then transferred to the Mediterranean in early 1915 to participate in the Dardanelles Campaign. She remained there, becoming flagship of the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron, which was later redesignated the Aegean Squadron. Abbott was with Lord Nelson when he was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Abbott was posted to Pembroke I from 20 September 1917, and was with this establishment when he was promoted to Master-at-Arms on 8 May 1918. He remained with Pembroke at Chatham through to July 1919 when he joined the newly commissioned heavy cruiser Hawkins. She then became the flagship of the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron on the China Station. Abbott was posted back to Pembroke I from April 1921. He was pensioned from service on 3 February 1923. Abbott had been a Mason since June 1918 when he was initiated into the United Service Lodge at Sheerness.
