Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private J. H. Stephenson, Royal Marines

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (J. H. Stevenson, Pte., H.M.S. Forte); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901 (J. H. Stephenson, Pte., R.M.L.I., H.M.S. Thrush) impressed naming; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Aro 1901-1902 (3548 Pte. J. H. Stephenson, H.M.S. Thrush) note variation in surname, contact marks, nearly very fine, scarce combination (3) £800-900

John Henry Stephenson was born in Drypool, Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire on 24 October 1866. A Labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Marines on 24 March 1885. He served aboard H.M.S. Forte in the expedition to Benin. Then aboard H.M.S. Thrush he served in the Second Boer War, landing in Mossel Bay, Cape Province on 1 January 1901. Thirteen Queen’s medals with the above two clasps awarded, of which three were to Royal Marines. Aboard the same ship, he was next engaged in the Ballaraghur Expedition in the Gambia, January 1901, followed by service on the Niger River, February-March 1902 - he was one of eight members of the Royal Marines to be awarded the ‘Aro’ clasp. Stephenson was discharged on 23 March 1906 and in addition to the medals was in possession of four Good Conduct Badges. Immediately after he enrolled into the R.F.R. but was discharged as medically unfit in May 1911. He was not recalled for service in the Great War, being still medically unfit and he died on 9 August 1922. With copied service paper and other research.