Pair: Fleet Engineer G. J. Gorfett, Royal Navy

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 2 clasps, Suakin 1884, Suakin 1885 (G. J. Gorfett. Asst. Engr: R.N. H.M.S. “Humber.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unnamed as issued, good very fine, scarce (2) £400-£500

Provenance: Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 1997; Dix Noonan Webb, September 2002 (Single medal on both occasions).

Approximately 45 medals with this clasp combination awarded to the Royal Navy, of which just 4 were to Officers.

George Gorfett was born in Plymouth, Devon in January 1860, and joined the Royal Navy as an Assistant Engineer, to work in Portsmouth Dockyard, in July 1880. His first vessel was H.M.S. Serapis, July 1881 - June 1882, followed by Humber, 11 June 1882 - 3 November 1886, where he earned his awards for the Egypt and Soudan, and was promoted to Engineer in September 1885. Gorfett subsequently served with the Asia, 1886-88, Porpoise, 1888-90, Hearty, 1891-94 (where he received promotion to Chief Engineer in July 1893), and finally with the Pembroke, 1894-96. He retired as ‘unfit’, 6 March 1896, but received further promotion, to Staff Engineer (Retired) in July 1897, and to Fleet Engineer (Retired) in July 1901. He died, 28 June 1951 aged 91.

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