Four: Commander W. A. L. Q. Henriques, Royal Navy, who served ashore in Egypt in the Armoured Train and had an impressive record for saving lives during his career

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Lieut. W. A. L. Q. Henriques, R.N. H.M.S. “Malabar”); British War Medal 1914-20 (Commr., R.N.); Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed; Royal Humane Society, small successful bronze medal (Sub. Lieut. W. A. L. Q. Henriques, R.N. 16 July 1671 (sic)) last with integral top riband buckle, together with related group of four miniature medals mounted on a Hunt & Roskell quadruple silver buckle brooch, and a ‘Queen Mary’s Carpenters of War Hospital, Central Surgical Supply Depot’, oval bronze lapel badge, the reverse inscribed ‘Capt. Henriques R.N. Oct. 1915 -’, generally very fine or better (lot) £600-£800

Dix Noonan Web, December 2006.

William Abraham Ludington Quixans Henriques was born on 25 September 1850, and entered the Navy as a Naval Cadet in June 1865, becoming Midshipman in March 1866, Sub Lieutenant in December 1870, and Lieutenant in December 1874. He served in China in 1866, as Midshipman in H.M.S. Pelorus, and was present and assisted in the destruction of several piratical villages and junks in the Lejemon Pass, near Hong Kong, for which the officers engaged received the thanks of the Governor of Hong Kong. Whilst Midshipman of H.M.S. Juno in 1869, he jumped overboard on two occasions and saved the lives of two marines who had fallen overboard in Portsmouth Harbour, one being in heavy marching order. As Sub-Lieutenant of H.M.S. Monarch, on 16 July 1871, he jumped overboard to save E. Ringsford, A.B., and J. Breshnahan, Pte. R.M.L.I. (Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society).

In East Africa from 1873 to 1875, as Sub-Lieutenant of H.M.S. Thetis, he was present at the capture and destruction of several slave dhows, and the liberation of 600 slaves, including the expedition up the Mtusi River, resulting in the taking of three large dhows after a determined resistance by the Arab slave dealers. He subsequently received Prize Money for one Slave Dhow, name unknown, captured on 16 July 1874, and another, name unknown, captured on 29 October 1874. In 1874 he also rescued the crew of the galley which had capsized on the bar at Pangany, after dark and under circumstances of great difficulty, for which he received the thanks of Captain T. Le H. Ward.

Heriques served throughout the war in Egypt in 1882 as Lieutenant in H.M.S. Malabar, including service ashore, and was twice under fire in the Armoured Train (Medal & Khedive’s Bronze Star). Whilst in Malabar, he rescued the Boatswain who had fallen overboard at night, the ship going at 11 knots under steam and all possible sail. He was publicly thanked in the presence of the ship’s company by Captain Grant for going away in the lifeboat.

Promoted to Commander and Retired in September 1895, Henriques was re-employed during the Great War from March 1917 to late 1918, borne in H.M.S. President for ‘Miscellaneous and Special Service’ as Commander on the Active List.