Africa General Service Medal 1902-56, (1) Clasp; Somaliland 1920 with WW1 BWM to an Officer, HMS Ark Royal
BWM named to LIEUT. R. REFFELL. R.N. / ACT. LIEUT. R. REFFEL, R.N. H.M.S. ARK ROYAL.
GVF, (3 Medals, Star re-united but missing Victory).
Raymond Reffell was b. 15th May 1895 at Wyrardisbury, Bucks to a Faring family. Seniority in the R.N.R. from 7 Aug 13. He was on P32 / HMS Halcyon (Torpedo Gunboat) from October 1916 - July 1917, served as a Navigating Officer with excellent reviews. Later HMS Michael (12.7.17 until war's end at least - "M" Class Destroyer), HMS Benbow and Ark Royal, Ark Royal from October 1919 - Jan 1921. Attended Greenwich Naval College Sept. 1921. Retired List 22 May 1922, rank of Lieutenant. He died in September 1974 at Battle, Sussex.
HMS Ark Royal : Pendant Nos. N.80 (1914), N.07 (1.18). Launched 5.9.14 Blyth SB Co. 7080 tons, 366(oa), 35(pp)x51x171ft. TE 3000ihp, 11kts. Armament: 4-12pdr, 4 seaplanes. Eastern Mediterranean 1915-18. Depot ship 1923, renamed PEGASUS 12.34, catapult ship 4.41, depot ship 1944. Sold 18.10.46 as Anita I. (British Warships 1914-1919)
Commissioned early in December 1914 and sailed for Dardanelles on 1 February 1915, arriving at Tenedos on the 17th. Although hampered by the poor performance of her sea planes she provided much-needed reconnaissance for the bombardment of the Turkish forts. Involved in many operations March-April 1915 and covered the landings from 25 April onwards, but at the end of May was withdrawn to Imbros where she became in effect a depot ship for all aircraft based there (she was too vulnerable to U-boat attack to be risked at sea). To Mytilene and Salonika from November 1915 to March 1916, then back to Mudros as parent ship to No 2 Wing, RNAS. Two of her Sopwith Baby Seaplanes attempted to bomb Goeben in January 1918. To Syra as parent ship through Dardanelles after the Armistice and operated in the Black Sea, transporting aircraft to Batum. Withdrawn at the end of 1919 to support Somaliland campaign against the 'Mad Mullah'. Sea of Marmora and Black Sea 1920, covering withdrawal of White Russian forces from Crimea, and carried aircraft to Basra, in the Persian Gulf. In reserve at Rosyth after refit November 1920-April 1921.
