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

Four: South Africa 1877-79, clasp, 1877-8 (R. Dobeer, Ord. H.M.S. “Active”) suspension slightly bent; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (R. Dobeer, A.B. H.M.S. “Achilles”); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Rich. Dobeer, Comd. Btn., H.M. Coast Guard) impressed naming; Khedive’s Star 1882, contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine (4)

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

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76 clasps to H.M.S. Active, the only ship to earn this clasp.
Richard Dobeer was born in Plympton St Mary, Devonport, on 4 September 1859. First entered as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. IMPREGNABLE on 9 September 1875 and advanced to Boy 1st Class in September 1876. Was then drafted to H.M.S. ACTIVE on 8 October 1877, where he was advanced to Ord 2nd Class in November l 877 and to Ord a year later, prior to being paid off on 25 October 1879, after earning his South African campaign medal. During his next Commission aboard H.M.S. ACHILLES (1880-82), he received advancement to A.B. in May 1881 and his no clasp Egypt medal. His next vessel was H.M.S. BELLEROPHON (1885-89) where he was made a Leading Seaman in July 1887. He then joined the Coast Guard as a Boatman on 30 October 1889, was advanced to Commissioned Boatman on 1st January 1893 and awarded his LS & GC medal on 26 April 1893. He was invalided with defective eyesight from Plymouth Hospital on 4 October 1895.