The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Six: Crimea 1854-55, 1 clasp, Sebastopol; Baltic 1854-55, these two unnamed as issued; New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated ‘1860 to 1861’ (C. H. Spence, Yeon. Signals H.M.S. Iris); Abyssinia 1867-68 (Chf. Yeo. Sigls. C. H. Spence, H.M.S. Octavia); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (Cs. Spence, Chf. Yeo. Sig. H.M.S. Zealous 20 Yrs.); Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, fitted with a contemporary replacement suspension bar, contact marks to the first two, very fine, otherwise good fine and a rare campaign group (6)

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

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See colour plate III.

Charles H. Spence was born in Westminster, London, on 5 October 1834, and joined the service as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. PERSIAN on 30 January 1851. He was drafted to ST JEAN D'ACRE on 16 April 1853 until paid off on 7 November 1856 having been advanced to Ord in August 1854, to A.B. in December 1855 and subsequently toYeoman of Signals on 1 August 1856. He served aboard H.M.S. IRIS as Yeoman of Signals from November 1856 until April 1861.

After spending short periods aboard H.M. Ships PELORUS, CORNWALLIS, IRRESISTIBLE and DUKE OF WELLINGTON, he joined H.M.S. OCTAVIA on 25 March 1865 as Captain of the Mast, regaining his old rate of Yeoman of Signals in June 1867 and further advancement to Chief Yeoman of Signals on 1 October 1867. He was paid off from OCTAVIA to H.M.S. ZEALOUS on 10 July 1869, and was granted his pension, medal and gratuity on 14 April 1873 on being paid off from ZEALOUS, having served 20 years and 196 days.