Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Master-at-Arms Charles Woodley, Royal Navy

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Gambia 1894 (A.B., H.M.S. Alecto); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Natal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Sh. Corpl., H.M.S. Philomel) small impressed naming, ‘Natal’ clasp a copy; British War Medal 1914-20 (122381 M.A.A., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Chas. Woodley, Sh. Corp. 1Cl., H.M.S. Philomel) impressed naming, slight contact marks, nearly very fine and better (4) £450-550

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of East and West Africa Medals to the Royal Navy.

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Charles Woodley was born in Paddington, London on 21 February 1868. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in February 1883 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in April 1884. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman when on the Raleigh in February 1886 and to Able Seaman when again on the ship in February 1888. Woodley served on the Alecto, February 1893-April 1894, during which time he served in the expedition up the Gambia River, February-March 1894. He was one of 57 men of the Alecto to be awarded the clasp ‘Gambia 1894’. In October 1894 whilst based at Vivid I he was rated Ship’s Corporal 2nd Class, being advanced to 1st Class when on Calypso in October 1896. He served on Philomel, December 1898-March 1902 and was promoted to Master-at Arms in September 1901. During this time he saw service in the Boer War and was awarded the Q.S.A. without clasp - being one of 152 men of the ship to be so entitled. Woodley retired from the Royal Navy in September 1906 but returned to the service in August 1914. Serving as a Master-at-Arms, he served throughout the war on shore bases, being demobilized in May 1919. Sold with copied service paper and research.