Five: Paymaster-in-Chief W. Trew, Royal Navy, who was mentioned in despatches for all of his campaigns

South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (W. Trew, Asst. Payr., R.N., H.M.S. Active): Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (W. Trew, Paymr., R.N., H.M.S. Agincourt); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (W. Trew, Flt. Paymr., R.N., H.M.S. St. George); Turkey, Order of Osmania, 4th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel; Khedive’s Star 1882, generally good very fine or better (5) £1000-1200

William Trew entered the Royal Navy as an Assistant Clerk in March 1860, the commencement of a long and distinguished career that ended with his retirement as Paymaster-in-Chief in January 1902. In the interim, as per Lean’s Navy List, he had served as:

‘Assistant-Paymaster (Secretary’s Office), on the West Coast of Africa during the Old Colony and Zulu Wars 1877-79; mentioned in despatches (Zulu Medal); Secretary to Rear-Admiral Sir F. W. Sullivan in the Inconstant, Flying Squadron, 1881-82, and during the Egyptian War 1882 (Egyptian Medal, Khedive’s Bronze Star, Osmanieh 4th Class); Staff Paymaster of Garnet, employed at Zanzibar in suppression of the slave trade 1887-90; Fleet Paymaster of St. George, flagship of Rear-Admiral H. H. Rawson, C.B., 1894-97, during the various expeditions on the East and West Coasts of Africa; present on the occasion of the bombardment and capture of the Sultan of Zanzibar’s palace on 27 August 1896, by the Squadron of Rear-Admiral H. H. Rawson, C.B., and landed from the Squadron to punish the King of Benin for the massacre of the political expedition in 1897, ending in the capture of Benin City on 18 February 1897; mentioned in despatches (General Africa Medal, Benin clasp).’

Sold with the recipient’s original Osmania bestowal document and related Admiralty letter, together with an illuminated invitation to the officers and men of the St. George from the Mayor of Portsmouth ‘to a banquet at the Town Hall in Celebration of Splendid Services Rendered During Their Commission of 1894-1898 on the South African Station, and a fine studio portrait photograph.