A WW1 Royal Navy L.S.&.G.C. 'Sierra Leone Influenza Outbreak' Medal Group to M.6739 Chief Shipwright 1st Class Henry Chesterfield.

Henry Chesterfield was born on the 21st of September 1890, at St. Austell, Cornwall, and he was a Shipwright before he joined the ranks of the Royal Navy on the 20th of October 1913.

He spent the whole of WW1 serving aboard the pre-dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Africa, who did not see very much action during this period of service.

Africa was stationed in Sierra Leone during September 1918, acting as a convoy escort between Sierra Leone and Care Town, South Africa. It was during this time that the geat Influenza epidemic, which would ultimatly claim an estimated 50 million lives accross the world, broke out amongst the crew of H.M.S. Africa. By the 6th of September, 476 crew members were reported as ill with Influenza, and by the 30th of September when the quarantine flag was hauled down, 52 crew members had died out of a complement of 800.

The medals are mounted as worn on original ribbons, sold with some copied research, and are as follows -

1914/14 Star, M.6739. H. CHESTERFIELD, SHPT. 2., R.N.; British War & Victory Medals, M.6739 H. CHESTERFIELD. SHPT., 2. R.N.; G.V.R. Royal Navy Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, M.6739 H. CHESTERFIELD. CH, SHPT, 2, H.M.S. VICTORY

Condition, lightly polished, otherwise very fine