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

Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (Navg. Lt. A. W. Miller, R.N. H.M.S. Amethyst. 73-74) contact marks, otherwise very fine

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

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Andrew Miller was born on 23 January 1841 and joined the Royal Navy as a Master's Assistant aboard H.M.S. BELLEISLE on 15 November 1855, just three weeks before eligibility ceased for the award of the Baltic medal to members of this vessel, whilst it served as a Hospital Ship. His next appointment was to H.M.S. AMETHYST on 30 July 1856 until she was paid off in December 1860. During the early part of this Commission he took part in the blockade of the Canton River, thus earning the 2nd China War medal to add to that for the Baltic. Promoted to 2nd Master on 15 November 1861, to Master on 2 March 1866, and when the title of Master ceased, he was made a Navigating Lieutenant on 1st July 1867 in which rank he was appointed to the Corvette AMETHYST on 7 July 1873, where subsequently he participated in the HUASCAR saga.

Able Seaman Patrick Riley described the scene on AMETHYST's gun deck in his auto-biography “Memories of a Blue-Jacket 1872-1918” (1927): “I, being a ‘rearman’ at my gun, had a splendid opportunity of taking stock. The upper deck was clear of any obstruction, except the funnel casing midships, and the guns at the side from the break of the forecastle to the poop, we could see plainly what was taking place on any part of the deck. The captain, with a midshipman in attendance, posted himself on the side of the poop nearest the HUASCAR. The navigating officer, Lieutenant A.W. Miller, stood at the standard compass, while the First Lieutenant, A.K. Bickford, our gunnery officer with a midshipman and bugler in attendance, posted himself at some point of vantage from where he could direct the fire of guns, giving orders to raise or lower the sights as required. There were no range-finders in those days, the range being found by good judging of distance from the object.

It was an exhilarating sight to see fourteen men forming each gun crew, when only one broadside was manned with their jumpers off, bareheaded and barefooted, working away like demons, and as happy as birds, as you can see from their faces. One could see the six guns of the ‘broadside’ in the different stages of being trained, fired or loaded; the side tackles, with their heavy blocks for running the guns out in the firing position; the heavy breeching secured to ring bolts in the ship's side, to prevent the guns, when fired, from recoiling too far; the handspike men, shaping to train or lay the gun for elevation, as required. It reminded me of the pictures I have seen of the fighting between-decks in the days of Nelson; days long gone by, never to be seen again.”

Captain Chatfield with nearly four years in command with a company of tried and battle experienced crew, many of whom had fought in the Naval Brigade during the Ashantee War, lusted for closer action but was denied it by the Admiral, whereupon, as Riley noted: “he stamped his foot with vexation whilst standing on the conning platform at losing such a splendid chance. We could all hear him call out to our Navigator, ‘Miller, make a note of that; this is the third time I have been recalled out of Action’.”

Andrew W. Miller became a Staff Commander on 12 February 1878 four months before AMETHYST was paid off. After serving a Commission aboard H.M.S. WYE (1883-86) he received further promotion in May l894 to Staff Captain but was retired in July 1896. He died in October 1903.