Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Rear-Admiral A. D. S. Denison, Royal Navy

China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Fatshan 1857 (Lieut. Hon. A. D. S. Denison, R.N.) engraved naming; Royal Humane Society Medal, large, silver (Hon. A. D. S. Denison, Mate, R.N., 15 Novr. 1856) contact marks mainly to first, nearly very fine and better (2) £350-400

The Hon. Albert Denison Somerville Denison was born in 1835, the second son of the 1st Baron Londesborough, the younger brother of William Henry Forester Denison, 1st Earl of Londesborough. He entered the Royal Navy in 1851. As an Acting Mate he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal for effecting a rescue in November 1856:

‘On the 15th of November 1856, as boats belonging to H.M.S. Hornet were leaving to attack the Bogue Forts, in the Canton River, China, a private of marines stepping from the ship into the boat missed his footing and fell overboard, being at the time fully accoutred, and with sixty rounds of ammunition in his pouch, he could not keep on the surface of the water, and a strong tide running, which carried from reach of the boat’s crew. When the Hon. Albert D. S. Denison acting mate, H.M.S. Hornet (at that time officer of the boat), gallantly jumped overboard, swam to his relief, and succeeded in keeping him afloat until the boat came their assistance’.

He served in the China Expedition of 1857-60. His service paper recording: ‘While a Mate was wounded in an engagement with Chinese (Sir M. Seymour 14 Jan. 57). 24 Mar. 57 Sir M. Seymour reports creditable conduct in engagement with Chinese Junks. 1 Aug. 57 Gazetted as engaged in 2 boat actions with Chinese Junks. 14 Jan. 59 Sr M. Seymour reports his being engaged in expedition against Chinese ? near Canton’.

He was appointed an Acting Lieutenant in August 1857 and Lieutenant in November the same year. Promoted to Commander in August 1866 and Captain in September 1873. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 4 October 1881 and was advanced to Rear-Admiral on the Retired List on 29 November 1889. Rear-Admiral Denison died on 2 September 1903. Sold with copied research.