Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Gemaizah 1888 (R. Henson, A.B., H.M.S. Achilles) edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine £260-£300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Egypt Medals to the Royal Navy.

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Eric Smith Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, November 2009.

Approximately 43 no clasp medals awarded to H.M.S. Achilles.

Richard Henson was born in Birmingham on 12 March 1863 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 27 August 1878. Appointed a Bugler on 16 September 1879, he served in H.M.S. Achilles from 5 November 1880 to 7 December 1883, was promoted Able Seaman on 16 March 1882, and saw active service in that ship during the Egyptian campaign of 1882. He saw further service in H.M.S. Racer from 9 April 1885 to 25 February 1889, and was present at Gemaizah in December 1888, where the Bluejackets present were largely drawn from H.M. Ships Starling and Racer. Advanced Second Yeoman of Signals on 2 April 1891, he was discharged dead from H.M.S. Impregnable on 12 August 1895, the Coroner’s verdict being that he had ‘committed suicide by hanging himself in the London and South Western Railway Station at Devonport whilst in an unsound state of mind.’

Sold with copied service records and medal roll extract.