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

Pair: Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (W. T. Knight, Ord. H.M.S. Argus. 73-74); South Africa 1877-79, clasp, 1879 (W. T. Knight, A.B. H.M.S. “Boadicea”) contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine and better (2)

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

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William Knight was born in Guernsey on 3 March 1854. Joined the service aboard H.M.S. ACHILLES as a Boy 2nd Class on 16 March 1870, and later drafted to H.M.S. ARGUS on 27 March 1873 for her 3 year commission as an Ordinary Seaman. Advanced aboard H.M.S. WARRIOR in September 1877 to Able Seaman prior to his commission in H.M.S. BOADICEA commencing 20 November 1878 until April 1882, participating in the Zulu War campaign. Transferred to the Coast Guard and served as a Boatman at New Brighton on 24 March 1883; advanced to Commissioned Boatman in May 1887 but two years later died (whilst on the books of H.M.S. NEPTUNE) as a result of an accident when he “fell from aloft” on 9 August 1889.