Orders, Decorations and Medals

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Brass River 1895 (B. E. Prichard, Mid. R.N., H.M.S. St. George) very fine £500-600

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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Bernard Elliot Prichard was born in Toleni, Transkei on 3 March 1878. He was Midshipman aboard the St. George (Flag) and served in the Naval Brigade landed under the command of Rear-Admiral Sir F. Bedford, K.C.B., Commander-in-Chief, for the Punitive Expedition against King Koko, of Nimby, the chief town of Brass, on the River Niger, February, 1895. For his services he was awarded East & West Africa medal with clasp ‘Brass River 1895’ and was one of 174 men of the ship to be so awarded. He was promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in November 1897, Lieutenant in June 1900 and Lieutenant-Commander in June 1908. He was First and Gunnery Lieutenant of the 2nd class cruiser Brilliant, December 1909-December 1911, during the Revolution in Honduras, Central America, and was present at the battle of La Ceiba, when the town was captured by the revolutionary troops and the General of the Government killed. In February, 1911, he landed in command of a mixed force of British and American blue jackets and marines from H.M.S. Brilliant and U.S. Ships Tacoma and Marietta to restore order and police the town of San Pedro, 38 miles inland from the seaport of Puerto Cortes. For his services Lieutenant-Commander Prichard was mentioned in despatches. His service papers record, ‘Much zeal, tact & discretion shown during revolution in Spanish Honduras’. With the start of the Great War he was based at Dryad until February 1915 when he sent a telegram to the Admiralty, ‘requests he be relieved as he represents the responsibilities ... command is now more than his nerves will stand.’ His urgent request was granted and he was next posted to Royal Arthur, April-May 1915 and Zaria, August-December 1915. After continuing difficulties his next appointment was on Queen, May-June 1917. He was then posted to Catania at Taranto in command of motor launches and remained there until returning to England in March 1918. Based at Ganges, July-October 1918 he received a poor service report and in November 1918 he was placed on the Retired List at his own request. Several reports on his papers then speak of money troubles and in 1932 his name was removed from the Retired Officers List ‘in view of his long record of discreditable financial transactions’. In 1939/40, his application for employment with the Royal Navy was likewise refused. Sold with copied service papers.