The Royal Navy L.S. & G.C. awarded to Captain of the Foretop C. Newbury, who was drowned when H.M.S. Eurydice capsized and sank during a heavy snow storm in Sandown Bay, Isle of Wight, on 24 March 1878, with the loss of all but two of her crew

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Cs Newbury Capt Foretp. H.M.S. Excellent) engraved naming, good very fine and a scarce casualty £140-£180

Charles Newbury (also recorded as Newberry) was born in Gosport, Hampshire, on 11 December 1839 and joined the Royal Navy for continuous service on 11 February 1861. Advanced Captain of the Foretop on 31 December 1872, he served in H.M.S. Excellent from 8 March 1875 to 7 February 1877. Posted to H.M.S. Eurydice on 8 February 1877, he served in her during her tour of the North American and West Indies Station from November 1877 to March 1878. Sailing from Bermuda on 6 March 1878, the Eurydice crossed the Atlantic, but was caught in a heavy snow storm off Dunnose headland, Isle of Wight, and capsized and sank in Sandown Bay on 24 March 1878; out of the ship’s complement of 319 there were only two survivors, with most of those not carried down with the ship dying from exposure in the freezing waters.