Orders, Decorations and Medals

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (Lieut. E. C. Hobkirk, R.N. H.M.S. “Boadicea”) nearly extremely fine £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals Formed by The Late John Cooper.

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Ernest Chamberlain Hobkirk entered the Royal Navy on 8 February 1870, becoming Lieutenant in February 1874. As Lieutenant of Boadicea, he landed with her Naval Brigade during the Zulu war, accompanied the Ekowe Relief Column, was present at the battle of Gingihlovo, 2 April 1879, and accompanied the Brigade to Port Durnford. He was mentioned in despatches as having commanded a party at Gingihlovo. He retired at his own request in March 1884, probably due to the death of both his father and mother in the previous year. His service record shows that he took to consuming excessive amounts of wine at this time, Commander Richards noting, ‘I have found it necessary to take exception to his wine accounts & eventually to stop them.’