Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Colour Sergeant Philip Hoyle, Royal Marine Light Infantry

Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Taku Forts 1860, unnamed as issued; Royal Marine Meritorious Service Medal, E.VII.R. (Philip Hoyle, Colr. Sergt. R.M.L.I. 1st March 1906) officially impressed naming, nearly extremely fine (3) £700-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Extensive Collection of Medals for Long and Meritorious Service.

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Collection

Ex Perkins Collection, Sotheby December 1990.

Only about 40 Edward VII Royal Marine Meritorious Service Medals were awarded, of which 13 are known extant.

Philip Hoil was born on 11 May 1836, at North Malton, Devon, and was a labourer when he attested for 12 years for the Plymouth Division on 9 July 1854, aged 18 years 2 months. He remained at Plymouth until he embarked on H.M.S. Cornwallis, from 15 February 1855 to August 1856, earning the medal for the Baltic Campaign before disembarking to his home Division. He embarked with the Royal Marine Battalion on H.M.S. Sanspareil in March 1857 and transferred to H.M.S. Princess Charlotte in November 1857, where he remained until disembarking at his home port in May 1861 after a period of over four years in the Second China Wars for which he earned the medal and clasp for Taku Forts 1860. He remained at the Plymouth Division until November 1863 when he embarked to H.M.S. Royalist as a super-numery and transferred to H.M.S. Aboukir, from which he was discharged back to H.M.S. Royalist in April 1864 and from which he disembarked to the Plymouth Division in April 1867. He remained with the Plymouth Division until May 1870 when he embarked to H.M.S. Sphinx until August 1870, when he transferred to H.M.S. Aboukir before being discharged to H.M.S. Niobe in August 1871. There he remained until paid off in July 1874 to H.M.S. Sphinx and the following month returned to Plymouth Division where he remained until discharged with 'Exemplary' character on 3 August 1875.

During his service he spent 13 years 86 days afloat and 7 years 303 days ashore for total servitude of 21 years and 24 days, earning promotion from Private to Corporal in August 1858, to Sergeant in September 1862, and to Colour Sergeant in July 1869. He also reckoned 5 Good Conduct Badges towards additional pension. He was awarded his Royal Marine M.S.M. 31 years after leaving the service.

Sold with copies of Attestation papers, Statement of Services, Certificate of Services, and Record of Service.