Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Petty Officer First Class J. Smith, Royal Navy

Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (J. Smith. A.B. H.M.S. Himalaya. 73-74); South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (“Himalaya” J. Smith P.O. 1st. Cl. H.M.S.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Tamaai (J. Smith, Gunrs. Mate); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn from a quadruple to silver riband brooch bar, significant pitting and contact marks that has partially obscured naming, therefore fair to fine (4) £800-£1,000

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

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The Naval Brigade at Tamaai comprised 478 Officers, men, and marines seconded from 12 H.M. Ships.

John Smith was born at Sowton, Devon, on 1 March 1852 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in 1866. Advanced Able Seaman, he served in H.M.S. Himalaya from 14 November 1873 to 13 May 1874, seeing active service in this ship during the Ashantee campaign, and again in H.M.S. Himalaya from 25 September 1875 to 3 December 1878. Promoted Leading Seaman on 1 December 1876, Petty Officer Second Class on 1 June 1877, and Petty Officer First Class on 18 December 1877, he saw further active service in this ship during the South African campaign. Serving in H.M.S. Dryad from 18 December 1879 to 1 February 1884, Smith was seconded for service with the Naval Brigade during the Sudanese campaign of 1884, and was present as a Gunner’s Mate at the action at Tamaai on 13 March. He was shore pensioned on 17 July 1895.

Sold with copied service record and medal roll extract, where he appears on the supplementary list for H.M.S. Humber (from H.M.S. Dryad).