Three: Captain J. F. Murray-Aynsley, Royal Navy

Jubilee 1897, silver; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (Midn. R.M. H.M.S. “Alexandra”); Khedive’s Star 1882, mounted as worn, contact marks and pitting from star, otherwise nearly very fine (3) £300-350

John Francis Murray-Aynsley was born at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 27 October 1866, only son of Captain (later Vice-Admiral, C.B.) Charles Murray-Aynsley, and a direct descendant of the Third Earl of Athol. As a 12 year old he entered H.M.S. Britannia at Dartmouth, and joined the Alexandra in the Mediterranean in August 1881, being present at the bombardment of Alexandria in the following July.

He returned to Naval School as a Lieutenant in 1886, this time at H.M.S. Excellent, where he gained first class certificates, with very high marks, in Seamanship, Torpedo, Gunnery and Pilotage, and came second in the annual competition for the Beaufort Testimonial prize gold medal. Three years later he came first in the Theoretical exam for gunnery and torpedo Lieutenants, winning a prize of £100. In June 1890 he gained a first class certificate as Gunnery Lieutenant. He was promoted to Commander in January 1898 and gained a position at the Admiralty in the Department of Naval Ordnance for two years. His successful career was cut short, however, by the onset of ill health. He was invalided with Brights disease in 1901, returning to duty after three months to take command of his first ship H.M.S. Pandora in the Mediterranean. In March 1903 he suffered a relapse in his health and, in October that year, he was retired with the rank of Captain, after 22 years service. He died at his home in Hampshire on 10 May 1904, aged only 38. Sold with full research.