Orders, Decorations and Medals

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, Brass River 1895, Benin 1897 (S. Morford, 2nd Yeo. Sigs., H.M.S. Barrosa) good very fine £500-600

Spencer Morford was born in Folkstone, Kent, on 30 August 1869, and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class just after his 15th birthday, 1884. He went from Boy 1st Class to Signalman 3rd Class in Minotaur, December 1885 to November 1887. He served in Calypso, November 1887 to October 1892, and Blanche, March to August 1894, just missing the Juba River action, then Barossa, August 1894 to July 1897, in which ship he gained this medal with two clasps. He spent a period in ‘cells’ whilst aboard Calypso, forfeiting a chance of a L.S. & G.C. medal. He was shore pensioned in 1907 and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve the same month. He was recalled for service in the Great War and was awarded the Russian Medal for Zeal for services aboard H.M.S. Jupiter whilst engaged in icebreaking and delivering supplies to Archangel, Russia. Sold with copied record of service.