Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (J. H. Coad, E.R. Artfr., H.M.S. “Inflexible”) pitted, nearly very fine £100-140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Ron Tuppen Collection of Naval Medals to Engine Room Officers.

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John Henry Coad was born in Stoke Damerell, Devon on 26 October 1859. He entered the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer on 16 June 1881. Served on the battleship Inflexible at the bombardment of Alexandria, 11 July 1882. Deemed to be the most powerful battleship of her day, she sported four 16in muzzle loading guns. She fired 86 shells of this calibre at the Ras-el-Tin, Mex, Ada and Pharos forts and sustained the most damage to a British ship in the action - some of it caused by the concussion from her massive guns! She, like the minute Condor, received a ‘Well Done’ from the flagship. Coad attained the rank of C.E.R.A. in May 1893 when on Undaunted. Pensioned on 18 June 1901 but recalled for service in 1915. With copied service paper.