Orders, Decorations and Medals

Abyssinia 1867 (W. Canham, O.S., H.M.S. Dryad) suspension refixed, good very fine £800-1000

William Canham is confirmed as one of the 100 officers and men of the Royal Navy who served ashore with the Naval Rocket Brigade which included 10 men from H.M.S. Dryad. The Rocket Brigade was formed under Commander T. H. B. Fellowes, H.M.S. Dryad and was engaged at the battle of Arogee, and at the taking of Magdala.

The battle on Arogee plateau, beneath the rising rock mass leading through Fahla to the fortress of Magdala, took place on 10 April 1868. The First Brigade approached this plain by two steep routes, with the 4th Regiment committed to a most difficult perpendicular track, and the Rocket Brigade and baggage train allowed the easier but still precipitous King’s Road. Unfortunately the wrong column arrived first, to come under artillery fire from the heights of Fala, and to the sight of thousands of would-be plunderers rushing down from the rocky slopes across the plateau. The Commander-in-Chief was on the spot to see this scene, and promptly directed the Rocket Brigade to form up on a commanding position, dismount their batteries and open fire on the enemy. Commander Fellowes later reported that: “Such was the ease with which the rocket tubes could be handled and brought into action, that the Royal Naval Brigade were enabled to return the first shot..”.