The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 1)

Four: China 1857-60, no clasp, unnamed as issued; Abyssinia 1867-68 (2nd Cap. F. Top C. Austin, H.M.S. Octavia); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (C. Austen, Bo’sn. R.N. H.M.S. Superb); Khedive’s Star 1882, the group mounted on a contemporary wearing bar, dark toned, very fine or better (4)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Charles Austen was born at Margate, Kent, on 15 January 1841. He joined the service as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. TRIBUNE on 20 June 1856 for a four year Commission, during which period he earned the campaign medal for participation in the Second China War, reported much later in the Oxford Chronicle (1899) as having served as a “powder monkey”! After a commission in the West Indies aboard H.M.S. IMMORTALITE (1861-64) when he was advanced to Able Seaman in July 1862, he saw further service aboard H.M.S. OCTAVIA (1866-69) where his skills were noticed and rewarded. Advanced to Leading Seaman in September 1866 and subsequently gained Petty Officer status in August 1867 as Coxswain of the Cutter, in which capacity he was soon to find himself involved in the rescue of the passengers and crew from the ARAB STARS, wrecked on Prongo Reef, outside Bombay. Thereafter being praised by his Captain on the Quarterdeck and receiving the thanks of the Royal Indian Marine for his life-saving services.

Further recognition of his abilities followed when he was rated 2nd Captain of the Fore Top (Oct 1867), Captain of the Main Top (Sept 1868), and finally by promotion to the Warrant Rank of Acting Boatswain R.N. on 22 July 1869 for services with the Naval Rocket Brigade in Abyssinia, having passed the examination for Boatswain on 23 November 1868.

During the march to Magdala and back he had held the the post of “Sergeant of a Rocket Battery”, and was Mentioned in Despatches by Commander Fellowes. Thirty years later in October 1899, as a Recruiting Officer at Oxford, he referred to his time in Abyssinia when he “had to march 500 miles over the mountains with mules, but they did not skedaddle, because their men looked after them. He felt sure that if the sailors had been in charge of the animals at Ladysmith this week they would not have stampeded.”

After promotion he served only two full commissions at sea aboard H.M.Ships RIFLEMAN (1873-76) and SUPERB (1880-83), in the former vessel he assisted in the capture of several dhows in the Persian Gulf and took part in the capture of the fort at Mombasa in 1875; in the latter ship he earned his Egypt campaign medal.

Whilst on detached duty from H.M.S. INDUS during 1887, he formed part of the crew of H.M.S. CONQUEROR when she was commissioned to take part in the Jubilee Review, being aboard her from 5 July until 3 September 1887. After she was "paid off" he remained aboard her as she lay “In Ordinary” (Reserve) in the Hamoaze, Devonport, earning a high commendation from the officer Commanding the Steam Reserve, Captain H.H. Rawson (Later Admiral Sir Harry Rawson, GCB, GCMG.), for his and the Gunner's promptitude (the only men aboard) in letting go the anchor on 1st November 1887 during a gale, thereby saving the ship from being seriously damaged.

Promoted to Chief Boatswain R.N. on 14 November 1889, and latterly appointed as Master Rigger to Sheerness Dockyard in April 1894 until pensioned with a total of forty three years service on 20 January 1899. On 21 February 1899 Charles Austen received a letter from the Admiralty acquainting him that, under the provisions of an Order in Council dated 15 September 1887, he could henceforth assume the Honorary Rank of Lieutenant on the Retired List. Ever restless for work he found employment during 1899/1900 in North London and at Oxford as a recruiting officer. In September 1900 the Admiralty recalled him for duty aboard H.M.S. WILDFIRE, borne as Chief Boatswain (Retired), for coaling duties in the Medway, where he served until April 1907, thus completing fifty one years continuous service in uniform. He died on 7 August 1909 from cardiac degeneration, survived by his wife and five offspring.