Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Abyssinia 1867 (Lieut. H. C. Walker, H.M.S. Octavia) suspension neatly repaired, otherwise about very fine £400-500

Henry Chapman Walker entered the Navy as a Naval Cadet on 10 April 1856, becoming Midshipman in April 1858, Sub-Lieutenant in October 1826, and Lieutenant in November 1864. He served as Naval Cadet in Eurotas in 1856 until the evacuation of the Crimea, and as Midshipman in Barracouta in the expedition to Mexico, and the occupation of Vera Cruz, in 1862. As Flag Lieutenant to Commodore Sir L. G. Heath, aboard Octavia, he took part in the Abyssinian Expedition 1867-68 (despatches, and medal).

Walker was First Lieutenant of Dryad, 1869-71, whilst employed in the suppression of the slave trade on the East Coast of Africa. He was in command of Foam in the expedition against pirates in the river Congo, under Sir W. N. W. Hewitt, in 1875. He received the thanks of the Colonial Secretary for the assistance he rendered to the Governor of the Gold Coast at the emancipation of the slaves in the protectorate in 1874, and was at St Paul’s de Loanda to protect British interests at the final emancipation of slaves in the Portuguese province in Angola in 1876. Walker retired as a Commander on 9 December 1881.