Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (W. B. Drew, Surgn. R.N. H.M.S. “Cockatrice”) nearly very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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William Drew was born on 20 September 1848. He first entered as an Assistant Surgeon at Netley Hospital on 30 September 1871, and then served as a Surgeon aboard H.M.S. REPULSE (1872-77) and at Melville Hospital (1878-81). Appointed to H.M.S. COCKATRICE (1881-83), where he received promotion to Staff Surgeon on 30 September 1883. Was ashore with the Naval Brigade in Egypt whilst on the books of H.M.S. INVINCIBLE (7 Feb to 30 Sept 1884), and when with H.M.S. MONARCH (Oct 1884 to April 1885) served ashore with the R.M. Brigade from 2 November to 12 December 1884. Although he served with the Royal Marine Brigade during the 1884-85 Expedition in Soudan, he did not qualify for additional clasps. He was Mentioned in the Despatches of Major General Fremantle upon the defence of Suakin: "I trust that the excellent conduct of Dr Drew, the senior medical officer of the Royal Marine Battalion be notified in the proper quarter" (21 July 1885).

Subsequently served aboard H.M.S. HIMALAYA (1886-88), Chatham Hospital (1888-91), H.M.S. TRAFALGAR (1891-94), where he was promoted to Fleet Surgeon on 18 September 1892, Haulbowline Hospital (1894-98), Walmer Depot, R.M. (1898-1901) and Hong Kong Hospital (1901-04) when on joining on 13 March 1901 he was granted the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals and Fleets. He retired on 22 February 1905 with the Honorary rank of Inspector General and died on 26 December 1915.