Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Captain Sir William Goldsmith, Kt., Royal Navy, who served aboard the Amethyst during her celebrated World Voyage of 1856-60, Commanded the Royal Yachts Elfin and Alberta 1878-97, and was Sergeant at Arms to Queen Victoria, Edward VII, and George V 1895-1912

China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Fatshan 1857, Canton 1857 (Master’s Asstnt., H.M.S. Amethyst) contemporary engraved naming; Jubilee 1887, silver, with clasp ‘1897’; Coronation 1902, silver; Coronation 1911, together with a leather bound volume containing a large quantity of official Certificates and Appointments covering his naval career 1852-97, and a small oval framed portrait believed to be his wife, very fine or better (4) £600-800

William Burgess Goldsmith was born in September 1837, and entered the Royal Navy in July 1852, seeing active service in the Brig Philomel off the West Coast of Africa between 1853-56, in operations to suppress the slave trade. In Amethyst he was present at a number of actions during the Second China War, including the destruction of the Fatshan flotilla of War Junks on 1 July 1857, and at the blockading of the Canton River and Macao Passage Reach. He was promoted to Navigating Sub-Lieutenant in July 1858 and took part in Amethyst’s remarkable world voyage, returning home in 1860 and receiving further promotion to Navigating Lieutenant in October 1862, and to Staff Commander in July 1874.

He was subsequently employed aboard Seraphis during H.R.H. the Prince of Wales’ visit to India 1875-76. He went on to enjoy many years in Royal Yachts, commencing with the command of H.M.Y. Elfin in1878, and ending with 14 years as Captain of H.M.Y. Alberta between 1883-97, in which latter year he was knighted on the Quarter-Deck by Queen Victoria. A Staff Captain since 1888 and a Sergeant at Arms since 1895, Goldsmith was placed on the Retired List in 1897, but remained active in his latter appointment until his death in December 1912, in addition to serving as Admiralty Commissioner on the Cowes Harbour Committee.