George Ernest Whittle was born at Budleigh Salterton, Devon on 10 December 1892, a schoolboy he enlisted as a Boy 2nd class in the Royal Navy on 29 May 1908. He served at a number of shore and sea-based appointments and at the onset of the Great War was serving on Rattlesnake having been advanced to Signaller taking part in the campaign at Gallipoli. On the night of 18-19 December 1915 Rattlesnake used her searchlight to try and blind any Turkish troops who might have been looking towards Anzac Cove from Gaba Tepe, as part of the successful operation to withdraw from Gallipoli. In January 1916, she was one of eight G Class destroyers in the Eastern Mediterranean, where she was serving alongside a mix of other vessels.

Whittle remained aboard H.M.S. Rattlesnake until 4 June 1917 being next appointed to Dolphin and shore based for the remainder of the war. He was issued with his L.S. & G.C. Medal on 30 January 1926 and shore pensioned on 9 December 1932 in the rank of Master At Arms.

Recalled for service on 28 August 1939, he was posted to Victory 2 as Temporary Warrant Master At Arms before being posted to H.M.S. Eaglet where he became a transport officer and richly rewarded with the M.B.E. in 1944 which was presented to him at Buckingham Palace in February 1945. After the war he became the licensee of the New Inn at Drayton, having been the licensee of the Centaur at Elm Road in Portsmouth between the wars. Whittle died at Portsmouth on 10 October 1952 following a long illness.

The medals are mounted for display, sold with copied research, and are as follows –

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer's 2nd type breast Badge, silver-gilt, with Royal Mint case of issue; British War and Victory Medals, J.2049 G.E. WHITTLE L.SIG. R.N.; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R.,M 35458 G. E.WHITTLE. M.A.A. H.M.S. Victory, 

M.B.E. London Gazette 2 June 1944.

Condition, contact marks, very fine