East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin River 1894 (F. Osborne, Pte. R.M., H.M.S. Alecto) very fine £200-240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of East and West Africa Medals to the Royal Navy.

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Ex Douglas-Morris Collection, D.N.W. 12 February 1997.

Felix Osborne was born on 28 November 1869 in South Norwood, London, and enlisted in the Royal Marines on 28 December 1888. On completion of Recruit Training at Walmer Depot he joined the Plymouth Division as Private on 4 July 1889. He embarked in his first ship H.M.S. Black Prince on 5 April 1890 and was transferred to the Chatham Division on 25 March 1890. He next joined Swiftsure on 1 May 1891, and Wildfire on 1 October 1891. Whilst in the latter ship he deserted on 17 December 1892 and on recovery on 18 December he forfeited 28 day's service and was sentenced to the cells. Following 16 months aboard Wildfire he returned to the Chatham Division on 24 January 1893. He next embarked aboard Alecto on 20 March 1894 and took part in the Benin River operations. He joined Pembroke on 27 October 1895, and served until disembarked to HQ Chatham Division on 1 October 1897. He remained ashore until 19 July 1898 when he joined Diadem and served in this ship until disembarked to HQ Chatham Division on 23 January 1901, prior to being discharged to shore having completed a 12 year limited engagement on 25 January 1901.

He enrolled in the Royal Fleet Reserve at Chatham on 5 April 1902, and served in the R.F.R. until mobilised on 2 August 1914. He served with the Royal Marine Brigade at Ostend, 26 August-1 September 1914, Dunkirk, 20 September-2 October 1914, and the Defence of Antwerp, 3 October-9 October 1914. He next served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in the Dardanelles, 6 February-23 October 1915 and received a bullet wound in the left arm on 28 April 1915. He returned to the Chatham Division on 24 October 1915, embarked in Thalia 12 May 1917 and was transferred to Ganges, Training Establishment at Shotley on 4 January 1918. He served until 26 February 1919 when he returned to the Chatham Division prior to being demobilised on 1 April 1919. Sold with copied service papers.