Description
Naval General Service Medal, bar Near East, D/SKX 894453 Sydney “Sid” Robert Baskott, Leading Electrical Mechanic, Royal Navy. For the 1956 Suez Crisis.
Officially impressed: “D/SKX 894453 S.R. Baskott. L.M. (E). R.N.”
Fortunately there was only one man with this name and initials at the time:
Sydney Robert “Sid” Baskott, was born on 27th June 1933 in Warwick, Warwickshire.
He saw a somewhat unusual entrance in the Royal Navy, the following article referencing his time in the magistrates court as an errant young man and looks to have joined the Navy initially to escape a possible prison sentence, was published in the Leamington Spa Courier on 30th June 1950:
“KENILWORTH MAGISTRATES COURT –
To Join Navy – Sidney Robert Baskott, of 7 The Cottages, Leek Wootton, who was before the court on May 31st on a charge of obtaining money by false pretences, and with stealing clothing and cigarettes, was stated to have passed medical and educational standards for the Royal Navy.
Provided he has a satisfactory reference from his former employers, he will be admitted into the Royal Navy within a few weeks, and the charges against him were dismissed on payment of 30s costs.”
He married Pearl E. Jessney in Plymouth, Devon, during July 1954, whilst on service with the Royal Navy.
He probably got more than he bargained for simply escaping jail, being posted to Egypt for the “Suez Crisis of 1956” for which he would earn this medal with clasp “Near East”.
At the time he must of been about 5-6 years in and held the rank of L.M. Leading Mechanic (E) in the Electrical Branch of the Royal Navy.
In later life he moved to Wales and later died in Bridgend, Glamorgan during April 2022.
