The East & West Africa medal awarded to Chief Engine-Room Artificer H. F. S. Payne, H.M.S. Heron, with the rare ‘1898’ clasp

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1898 (H. F. S. Payne, Ch. E.R.A., H.M.S. Heron.) light contact marks, otherwise very fine £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters.

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Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, April 2001.

Only 10 clasps for ‘1898’ issued to the Royal Navy, all to H.M.S. Heron - 4 for the Borgu Expedition, and 6 for the Illah expedtion.

Harry Ferdinand Sillett Payne was born at Portland, Dorset, on 11 July 1863. He joined the Navy on 25 November 1884 as an acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, having been a fitter in civilian life. He served aboard Heron, as Chief E.R.A., from 29 January 1898 to 15 January 1899, during which period he took part in the Illah expedition in Northern Nigeria. Sold with copied record of service and medal roll.