Orders, Decorations and Medals

China 1900, no clasp (Lieut. W. S. Gillett, R.N. H.M.S. Linnet) very fine £200-250

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine collection of awards for the Boxer Rebellion 1900.

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Collection

Ex Douglas-Morris collection, February 1997.

95 medals issued to this ship, all without clasp.

Walter Scott Gillett was born at Hawley, Southampton, on 12 October 1875, and entered the service as a Cadet aboard the Training Ship Britannia on 15 July 1899 aged 14 years. He gained 5 month's seniority on passing out of Britannia and joined his first ship H.M.S. Dreadnought in July 1891. He was promoted Midshipman in February 1892, to Acting Sub Lieutenant in August 1895 and to Lieutenant in December 1897. During his relatively short Naval career he incurred their Lordship's disapproval and displeasure on four separate occasions.

Firstly in November 1899 he was found guilty of discreditable and unofficer-like conduct (drunk and disorderly on shore, arrested and convicted by civil powers) and removed to another ship; secondly, in November 1901, he was cautioned to be more careful following the grounding of Linnet in the Tsing Ming Channel; thirdly, in February 1903, he was reprimanded for non-payment of a debt to a Shanghai club and in punishment he was sent to sea; and fourthly, in July 1903, for unofficer-like and discreditable conduct in connection with a wine bill debt due to the Mess. He was retired medically unfit on the 11 January 1905 after 15 years service and died on 9 February 1907. Sold with copied record of service.