Orders, Decorations and Medals

Africa General Service 1902-56, 3 clasps, Somaliland 1902-04, Somaliland 1908-10, Somaliland 1920 (J. D. Fernandes, Dom. 3 Cl., H.M.S. Fox) unique three-clasp medal to the Royal Navy, nearly extremely fine £600-800

Joaquin Domingo Fernandes was born in Goa, India on 1 July 1884. He is described on his service paper as a ‘Man of Colour’. A Servant by occupation, he entered the Royal Navy as a Domestic on 7 November 1903. He served on the Fox, November 1903-November 1905, durig which time he gained his first ‘Somaliland’ clasp. As Domestic 2nd Class and then as Officer’s Steward he then served on the Hyacinth, May 1907-April 1911, during which time he gained his second clasp. He was appointed Officer’s Steward 1st Class when on the Swiftsure in September 1913, on which he served until February 1915. Further wartime service aboard the ships Euryalus and Juno followed. Postwar he served aboard the Odin, September 1919 - September 1920, during which time he gained his third Somaliland clasp. Sold with copied service paper and extract from published roll in which he is listed as the only recipient of three clasps to the Africa General Sevice Medal to the Royal Navy.