Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Captain R. W. Myburgh, Royal Navy

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Lieut., R.N., HMS Doris); 1914–15 Star (Commr., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Commr., R.N.) good very fine or better (4) £250-300

Captain Robert Wilberforce Myburgh was born at Queen’s Gate Gardens, South Kensington, London on 23 July 1873. He joined the Training Ship Britannia as a Naval Cadet on 15 January 1887 aged 13. On passing out of Britannia he gained six months seniority and was promoted to Midshipman on 15 July 1889. He was appointed to the 3rd Class Battleship Agincourt, Flag-ship of the Channel Squadron, Rear Admiral d’Arcy Irvine C.B., in December 1888. He transferred to the 1st Class Battleship Anson also serving with the Channel Squadron in May 1889. He was next appointed in December 1889 to the 1st class Cruiser Imperieuse, China Station. After serving only four months in this ship he was transferred in June 1891 to the 1st Class Cruiser Aurora, Channel Squadron. Following two years aboard this ship he joined in July 1902 the Narsissus 1st Class Cruiser in the same Squadron. Later in the same month he joined Active, 2nd Class Cruiser in the Training Squadron. On promotion to Acting Sub Lieutenant on 15 July 1893 he attended the Royal Naval College at Excellent for a Course of Study. On passing out he obtained 2nd Class Certificates in Torpedo, Gunnery and Pilotage and 3rd Class Certificates in Seamanship and College, and was confirmed in the rank of Sub Lieutenant.

In August 1894 he joined the 1st Class Cruiser Blenheim, Channel Squadron and on leaving this ship in April 1895 he was appointed to the Torpedo Boat Destroyer Ardent, Mediterranean Station. Whilst in this ship he was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 October 1895 and then transferred to the Special Torpedo Vessel Polyphemos serving on the same station. In May 1897 he joined Excellent for a short Gunnery Course and on passing out he obtained a 1st Class Certificate. Next appointed in November 1897 to Doris, 2nd Class Cruiser and Flag Ship Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station, Vice Admiral Sir Harry Rawson, K.C.B. In 1900 he was lent to Tartar, service on shore whilst attached to this ship earned him entitlement to the Queen’s South Africa Medal with clasp ‘Cape Colony’. Aboard Tartar 4 officers and 39 other ranks received the Queen’s South Africa Medal with the Cape Colony clasp.

In January 1902 he was appointed to Excellent for a Torpedo Course and obtained a 1st Class Certificate. Shortly after joining Conflict in January 1902 the ship was in collision with Starfish on 3 February 1902, the Court of Enquiry found that he displayed want of judgement and in particular was lacking in nerve and decision and ruled that he be superseded. He next spent short periods aboard the Torpedo Boat Destroyer Fawn April 1902, the 1st Class Battleship Benbow April 1903, and the 1st Class Battleship Russel, Home Fleet April 1904. He was appointed in June 1904 as 1st Lieutenant of the 2nd Class Cruiser Dido, Home Fleet. In 1905 he was awarded a Testimonial on vellum from the Royal Humane Society for saving a seaman from drowning at Lamlash on 23 September 1904. In April 1905 he joined Goliath on the China Station as 1st Lieutenant. After 2 years in this ship he was appointed in January 1908 to the Command of the 1st Class Torpedo Gun Boat Speedy and continued to serve in this ship until promoted to Commander on 31 December 1908. During 1909 he underwent a Signal Course at Portsmouth and the War Course at Greenwich where he obtained a 2nd Class Certificate. He was then given the Command of the Torpedo Boat Destroyer Star, Home Fleet in February 1910, followed in August 1910 by the Command of Albacore.

In the collision between Albacore and Spiteful in Portsmouth Harbour in May 1911 the Court of Enquiry found that sole blame was attached to him for not asking for assistance when the steam steering gear failed when approaching a difficult berth in strong winds and a flood tide and that he be strongly reprimanded. In July 1911 he took Command of the Battle Ship Hood, Flag-ship of Rear Admiral Sir Charles Coke, K.C.V.O., Deputy to the Admiral Commanding Coastguard and Reserves. His next appointment in January 1913 was to the 1st class Cruiser Endymion Gunnery Training Ship Sheerness and for Special Service in Command of Torpedo Boat Flotilla. In December 1913 he was posted to the Command of the Light Cruiser Colleen and for Special Duties in Command of the Torpedo Boat Flotilla based at Queenstown. He remained in this posting until July 1915 when he was superseded on appointment to Tamar for Duties in Hong Kong Dockyard. He returned to England in April 1919 and joined Vivid early in 1920. In February 1921 he attended the Intelligence Course at Greenwich and at his own request was placed on the Retired List with the rank of Captain on 5 June 1921. Captain Myburgh died on 8 February 1963 at the age of 89. Sold with a laser copied photo of recipient in uniform, copied service papers and one of his original carte de visite‘s.