United Kingdom. A Naval Chaplain First and Second World War Medal Group to Rev. C.E. Payne

 A superb British Navy Chaplain First and Second World War group featuring six medals, including A 1914-15 Star bearing a dedication of “CHAP. G.E. PAYNE R.N.”; a British War Medal bearing a dedication of “CHAPN. C.E. PAYNE R.N.”; a Victory Medal bearing a dedication of “CHAPN. C.E. PAYNE R.N.”; a 1939-45 Star, unmarked; a Defence Medal, unmarked, and; a War Medal, unmarked; all naming officially impressed, loose-mounted for display, the First World War trio with replacement ribbons, in overall better than very fine condition; accompanied by a period postcard depicting Payne’s future parish church of St. Thomas à Becket's Church, Pagham, as well as handwritten typewritten service records and photographs of Payne’s gravesite. 

Footnote: Charles Edgar Payne was born in 1888 and underwent theological training at St. Augustine’s College, Canterbury from 1905. Ordained as a Deacon in the Church of England in 1908, he was later appointed Curate of St. John the Baptist Church in Newport, Monmouthshire, holding this position for two years before becoming Curate of All Saints, Beaconsfield, South Africa from 1910 until 1911. He was later Priest-in-Charge in Berkley West, South Africa from 1911 until 1913. Returning to England, Payne became Curate of St. Mary's, Plaistow, Bromley in 1914, and later Chaplain for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, St. Vincent, Windward Isles from 1914 until 1915. He was then appointed Temporary Chaplain to the Royal Navy, and was tasked with ministering to the crews of armed merchant cruisers operating in the South Atlantic. Payne later served aboard H.M.S. Theseus in the Mediterranean from July 1916 until August 1918, subsequently transferring to Shore Base H.M.S. Imperieuse on 26 August 1918. Payne was later transferred to the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Vindictive on 5 March 1919, the light cruiser H.M.S. Weymouth in March 1920, and joined Shore Base H.M.S. Vivid (youth training establishment) on 7th July 1921. His storied career continued, transferring to H.M.S. Lowestot on the Africa Station on 2nd December 1922, later shifting to H.M.S. Emperor of India on 12 May 1925 and H.M.S. Berwick on 24 February 1928. Payne then left the Royal Navy and served as Chaplain to the Missions to Seamen in Yokohama, Japan, from 1931 until 1934, before returning to England to fulfill a number of clerical roles. During the Second World War, Payne returned to Royal Navy service, serving aboard H.M.S. Diomede from 1939 until 1940, before ministering to personnel in the Tyne area from 1940 until 1943. Once again retiring from naval service, Payne ended his career as vicar of St. Thomas à Becket's Church, Pagham from 1952 until 1959, before passing away on 6 January 1961, subsequently being buried in the churchyard there.