Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Benin 1897 casualty award to Gunner A. A. Targett, Royal Marine Artillery, who was severely wounded when a member of the Maxim gun team outside Benin City on 10 February 1897

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (A. A. Targett, Gr. R.M.A., H.M.S. St. George.) good very fine £700-£900

Arthur Alfred Targett was born at Portsmouth in June 1869 and enlisted into the Royal Marine Artillery at Eastney Barracks on 9 March 1888. He was embarked in St George and Malacca, 24 January to 18 March 1897, and landed with the Royal Marine Detachment for the operations against Benin. Targett was severely wounded outside Benin City on 10 February 1897. His papers record that he was ‘shot by a man in a tree while storming Benin - when trying to remove the bullet it was found that the pubic bone was shattered & the bullet impacted - also bullet wound of chest (which was removed).’ The diary of Private Lewis (OMRS Journal March 2019) records that Targett continued firing the Maxim although wounded, as were all the other members of the Maxim crew. His papers note that ‘Feb. 97. Present at attack on Benin - Specially recommended.’ Targett served on a variety of ships and shore establishments until March 1909. Recalled to service in August 1914 he served at Dunkirk and then in October 1915 to Holm in the Orkneys. He is also entitled to the 1914 Star Trio.

Sold with copied record of service and extracts from The Globe and Laurel detailing the Benin operations.