EIGHT medals honouring an Exmouth naval hero are being put up for auction next Saturday in Exeter.

EIGHT medals honouring an Exmouth naval hero are being put up for auction next Saturday in Exeter.

The medals, worth up to �300, are from the Great War from 1914-1918 and the Second World War, 1939-1945, and were awarded to a RG Marshall of the Royal Navy.

Born in Exmouth he entered the Royal Navy in 1903, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

A gunnery specialist, he was chosen to supervise the armament of the ill-fated HMS Exeter, which fought in the famous Battle of the River Plate against the Admiral Graf Spee before being was sunk by the Japanese in 1942.

After the refit he retired in 1932 only to be called back into service and served on an armed P&O merchant liner.

He was injured and returned home and later became a well-known figure as Officer of the Watch in Devonport Barracks, Plymouth.

He retired again in 1946 and returned to Exmouth and became a popular member of the Burma Star Association, and was also a founder member of the White Ensign Association - he died in 1967.

The medals on offer are three 1914-1918 Great war of Civilisation stars, a 1939-1945 star, the African Star, the Burma Star, the Defence Medal and another 1939-1945 service medal.

James Wakefield Whitton of Whitton and Laing Auctioners in Exeter said: "These medals aren't particularly uncommon but it's nice to have the trio of stars and the whole collection together.

"I think this collection is of great interest - he was a local individual and well known."

The auction takes place on Saturday June 20 at 1pm at the Auction Rooms in 32 Okehampton Street, Exeter.