Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Josh. Crook. Navl. Schoolmr. H.M.S. Ganges.) engraved naming, good very fine £80-120

Joseph Crook was born in Bolton, Lancashire, on 9 November 1845, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 15 January 1862, serving in H.M.S. Majestic. Noted as a ‘Pupil teacher’ whilst serving in H.M.S. Impregnable, he was sent to the training college at Exeter on 16 December 1866, and was appointed a Naval Schoolmaster on 1 January 1867. He subsequently served in H.M.S. Cossack, Ganges, Royal Adelaide, and Ruby, before transferring back to H.M.S. Ganges on 21 September 1880, and was awarded his Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 2 October of that year. Promoted to Head Schoolmaster on his return to H.M.S. Impregnable on 2 February 1885, he remained in Impregnable until his retirement from the Royal Navy in December 1900 aged 55.