Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Carpenter’s Mate John Dempsey, Royal Navy

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (J. Dempsey Carprs. Mte. H.M.S. “Sultan”); Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed, the first with minor pitting from star, otherwise good very fine, the second nearly very fine (2) £160-£200

John Dempsey was born at Minane Bridge, County Cork, on 16 December 1841. He joined the Royal Navy in 1864, a carpenter by trade, over time progressing from Carpenter’s Crew to Shipwright and finally to Carpenter’s Mate. The only ship in which he saw active service was H.M.S. Sultan at the bombardment of Alexandria on 11 July 1882. Although considerably battered by enemy fire during the action, only two men were killed and eight injured aboard Sultan. His service throughout his time was always rated ‘Very Good’ and an annotation in his papers ‘Traced 7.9.80’ would seem to indicate that he was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal, although one would normally expect to see ‘Traced M.’ with a date. Sold with copied record of service and other research.