Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Admiral Sir Nathaniel Bowden Smith, Royal Navy

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Nathaniel B. Smith, Nl. Cadet “Winchester”); Baltic 1854-55, unnamed; China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Fatshan 1857, Taku Forts 1858, unnamed, these three mounted as worn; Royal Humane Society, small silver medal (successful) (Lieut. N. B. Smith, R.N., H.M.S. Pelican, 9 Feb. 1864), mounted seperately as worn, edge bruising and contact marks, nearly very fine and better (4) £750-850

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Life Saving Awards formed by The Late W.H. Fevyer.

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‘On the 9th February 1864, William Cross, A.B. of H.M.S. Pelican, accidentally fell from the maintop, striking part of the mainrigging, and falling thence into the water, the ship going at the rate of seven knots per hour, with a heavy sea, when Lieutenant N. Bowden Smith, R.N., jumped overboard to his assistance, and held him up until the boat arrived, when without such prompt aid the man must have perished, as he had broken his collar-bone and was much bruised and stunned by striking the rigging, and so rendered incapable of making any efforts to save himself’ (Ref. Acts of Gallantry, p.265-266).

Nathaniel Bowden Smith was born in Careys, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, on 21 January 1838. He entered the Royal Navy in 1852 and served as a Naval Cadet on the Winchester during the Burmese War, 1852-53. During the Crimea War he was a Midshipman in the Royal George in the Baltic. In the China War of 1856-59, he served as Mate on the Fury and Calcutta and took part in the boat actions at Escape Creek and Fatshan and in the capture of the Taku Forts where he was severely wounded. As a Lieutenant aboard the Pelican he was awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in silver, rescuing a seaman who had fallen overboard. Promoted to Commander in 1866 and Captain in 1872, he served as a Flag Captain successively in a detached squadron and on the Mediterranean and East Indian Stations and was in command of Britannia, 1883-86. Promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1888, he was one of the British representatives at the International Maritime Conference at Washington, 1889. Smith was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Australian Station, 1892-95 and was promoted to Vice-Admiral in 1894. Created a K.C.B. in 1897 and promoted to Admiral in 1899; he was appointed Commander-in-Chief at Nore, 1899-1900. Placed on the Retired List in 1903, he died on 28 April 1921. Sold with some copied research.