Auction Catalogue

27 June 2007

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 26

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27 June 2007

Hammer Price:
£2,900

Pair: Petty Officer E. J. Blewett, Royal Navy

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Alexandria 11th July, The Nile 1884-85, Kirbekan (Boy 1 Cl., H.M.S. Invincible) erasure of first initial, 2nd and 3rd clasps loose on ribbon; Khedive’s Star, 1882, unnamed, edge bruising, first with pitting, good fine and better; ‘Kirbekan’ rare to Navy (2) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Brigadier Brian Parritt, C.B.E..

View Medals from the Collection of Brigadier Brian Parritt, C.B.E.

View
Collection

A similar medal, awarded to Gunner’s Mate J. Allen, was sold in the Tinlin Collection, D.N.W. 7 March 2007, lot 28 (£4,200).

Edward John Blewett was born at St. Peters, Plymouth on 9 November 1864. He enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 11 June 1880. Serving as a Boy 1st Class, Blewett was present on board the
Invincible at the bombardment of the forts at Alexandria. The ship, commanded by Captain R. H. M. Molyneux, came in close and after an engagement lasting several hours, succeeded in silencing and partially destroying the batteries of Fort Mex. Promoted to Ordinary Seaman in December 1882, he was posted to the Monarch in October 1884 and served in the Nile Flotilla, being promoted to Able Seaman in November 1884. Blewett was one of the 9 sailors present at the battle of Kirbekan on 10 February 1885. Commanded by Lieutenant W. T. Bourke, R.N., the detachment manned the maxim gun from the piquet boat of H.M.S. Wye. Following his service in the desert, Blewett served on the Royal Adelaide and Indus. In January 1900 he was promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class. Throughout the Great War he served as Petty Officer 1st Class in the Boy’s Training Ship Impregnable at Devonport, finally retiring on 10 October 1919 after over 39 years of service. Sold with copied service papers which list several periods ‘in the cells’; copied extracts from medal rolls which confirm clasps and other research.