TRIMBLE, Samuel John

Display Number:  1406  
Name:  Trimble  Samuel John
Rank:  Colour Sargeant (Royal Marines) Service Number:  PO2269
Date Joined:  21st January 1939 on secondment to the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy Date Discharged:  28th June 1945, reverted to the Royal Navy

Colour Sergeant Trimble was a member of the ship's company of HMS Achilles at the Battle of the River Plate, where, for his actions, he was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM). He enjoyed a long career in the Royal Marines being awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

 
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Medal Description (Left to Right):  
  • Conspicuous Gallantry Medal - Instituted in 1855 as the Navy's equivalent to the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and was for award to senior and junior rating and is awarded for acts of gallantry.
  • 1939-1945 Star - Recognises service in the Second World War. It was usually awarded for six months service in special operational areas. Those whose service was shortened by death, injury or capture or who were awarded a decoration or mentioned in despatches also qualified for the medal. Those who served a day or more in specified battles or invasions also qualified for this award. The ribbon has three equal vertical stripes of dark blue (symbolising Navy and Merchant Navy), red (symbolising Army) and light blue (representing Air Force).
  • Pacific Star (Burma Clasp) - The Pacific Star was awarded for operational service in the Pacific between 8 December 1941 and 2 September 1945.It was also awarded for certain specified service in China and Malaya (8 December 1941 - 15 February 1942), Hong Kong (8 December 1941 - 25 December 1941) and Sumatra (8 December 1941- 23 March 1942). Service in the areas after these end dates was recognised by the award of the Burma Star. Those who qualified for both were awarded both of these awards were given thefirst star they qualified for, with a clasp in respect of the second star. The Green stripes on the ribbon symbolise the jungle while the central yellow stripe symbolises the beach. The outer red stripes symbolise the Army while the dark blue stripe symbolises the Navy and Merchant Navy and the light blue stripe symbolises the Air Force.
  • War Medal - Awarded across the British Commonwealth to all fulltime members of the Armed Force for 28 days service between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945 irrespective of where they were serving. On one side is an effigy of King George VI. On the reverse is a lion trampling on a dragon symbolising the Axis powers. The ribbon is the red, white and blue of the (British) Union Flag.
  • Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal 1937-1948 - Originally awarded for 21 years exemplary conduct, but the period was reduced to 10 years in 1874, then later increased to 15 years. In March 1981 commissioned officers became eligible after 15 years service, provided at least twelve of those were served in the ranks.