Great War ‘War Services’ January 1918 French Medaille Militaire of a Commissioned Warrant Officer, Chief Gunner later Lieutenant Commander A. Rivett, Royal Navy, who was granted a Warrant Officer’s commission back in November 1897, and on the outbreak of the Great War joined the battleship Emperor of India. Seeing service with the 4th Battle Squadron based at Scapa Flow, his ship took part in numerous sorties into the northern North Sea to enforce the blockade of Germany, along with frequent training exercises and gunnery drills. Rivett was awarded the French Medaille Militaire in the London Gazette for 25th January 1918, the award being ‘for distinguished services rendered during the war’. He was the most senior of the Warrant Officer’s of the Royal Navy to be decorated with this award in this gazette, being one of 22 Warrant Officer’s decorated with this award at the time. He ended the war employed on Naval Ordnance duties at Crombie, and was later commissioned as a Lieutenant in January 1920, being being promoted to Lieutenant Commander (Retired) in January 1928.
Group of 4: 1914-1915 Star; (CH.GNR. A. RIVETT. R.N.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (CH.GNR. A. RIVETT. R.N.); France - Third Republic: Medaille Militaire, 3rd republic 1870, silver-gilt and enamel.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
Together with a related silver snooker medal.
Alfred Rivett was born on 17th April 1870 in Belton, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and having worked as a fisherman, then joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class (Portsmouth No.136146) with Impregnable from 2nd January 1886, being then rated as a Boy 1st Class whilst with Ganges on 19th January 1887, as an Ordinary Seaman whilst with Active on 17th April 1888, and as an Able Seaman whilst with Northumberland on 26th April 1889. Promoted to Leading Seaman whilst with Edinburgh on 22nd January 1891, and then promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class whilst still with this ship on 10th January 1892, he was serving with Wildfire when he was appointed to Acting Chief Petty Officer on 9th February 1895 and then promoted to Chief Petty Officer on 9th February 1896. Having specialised in gunnery, Rivett was then granted a Warrant Officer’s Commission as an Acting Gunnner whilst with Excellent on 29th November 1897, and was subsequently confirmed in the rank of Gunner.
Rivett saw various service afloat and ashore, and was promoted to Chief Gunner on 29th November 1912 whilst serving aboard Essex, and with the outbreak of the Great War was serving with Victory and then posted aboard Emperor of India from 12th October 1914, and then saw service with her as part of the 4th Battle Squadron based at Scapa Flow. Emperor of India took part in numerous sorties into the northern North Sea to enforce the blockade of Germany, along with frequent training exercises and gunnery drills. Emperor of India was in dock for a refit in late May 1916, so she was unavailable for the Battle of Jutland.
It was for his services as a Chief Gunner aboard Emperor of India that Rivett was awarded the French Medaille Militaire in the London Gazette for 25th January 1918, the award being ‘for distinguished services rendered during the war’. He was the most senior of the Warrant Officer’s of the Royal Navy to be decorated with this award in this gazette, being one of 22 Warrant Officer’s awarded the decoration in this gazette.
Rivett then joined the depot ship for the Grand Fleet at Rosyth, namely Crescent from 30th December 1918, being appointed for Naval Ordnance duties at Crombie, a position he held till June 1919. Rivett was then commissioned as a Lieutenant on 28th January 1920, and was place on the Retired List on 16th July 1922. Rivett was ultimately promoted to Lieutenant Commander (Retired) on 26th January 1928. Confirmed as his full entitlement.
