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

Six: Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Mr. A. J. Piffard, I.G.S. “Amberwitch”); India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (2d Gde. Officer A. J. G. Piffard, H.M.I.M.S. “Sir. W. Peel”); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Commr. A. J. G. Piffard, R.I.M.S. Canning); China 1900, no clasp (Commr. A. J. G. Piffard, R.I.M.S. Canning); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Comdr. A. J. G. Piffard, R.I.M.S. Hardinge); Khedive’s Star 1882, light contact marks but generally good very fine and a remarkable Indian Marine 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.

Albert Piffard was born in Calcutta, India, on 10 November 1861 and was Apprenticed to Messrs Thomas & James Harrison of Liverpool. He served at sea for two years and for a short time worked in a solicitor's office, and served on board GLENROY and NIGHT HAWK for six months as an Ordinary Seaman. He joined the Indian Marine as a 4th Grade Officer on probation aboard the steamer KOEL on 9 March 1880 and transferred to HUGH ROSE two weeks later. He was confirmed as a 4th Grade Officer whilst aboard KOEL on 26 November 1880 before joining DAGMA in December 1880, and AMBERWITCH in November 1881. Service aboard the latter ship in Egyptian waters earned him the dated Egypt medal and the Khedive's Star. He served next aboard TENASSERIM (September 1882) and CZAREWITCH (April 1883). Having passed the Board of Trade Examination for 2nd Mate on 12 July 1883, he was promoted to 3rd Grade Officer on 12 August 1883, and unusually was immediately promoted to 2nd Grade Officer with the same seniority on joining AMBERWITCH in August 1883. He subsequently served in this rank aboard CANNING (April 1885), SIR WILLIAM PEEL (October 1885), CANNING (August 1887) and IRRAWADDY (August 1887) during which period he served in support of military operations during the Burma War.

Promoted to 1st Grade Officer on 1 January 1888, he next served in this rank aboard SLADEN (April 1889), ENTERPRISE (April 1889), NANCOWRY, in Command (August 1890), DALHOUSIE (September 1890), and IRRAWADDY as Lieutenant In Command (October 1890). He reverted to the rank of Lieutenant on joining WARREN HASTINGS (November 1894), LAWRENCE, in Command (October 1895), and ELPHINSTONE, in Command (December 1896). He was promoted to 3rd Grade Commander on 8 March 1897 and subsequently served in this rank aboard MINTO (August 1897), DALHOUSIE (November 1897), MINTO (December 1897), and CANNING (March 1899). In this latter vessel he served firstly in South African waters and secondly in Chinese waters thereby gaining another two campaign medals. He reverted to 3rd Grade Commander on joining DALHOUSIE in November 1900 and continued to serve in this rank on joining HARDINGE (May 1901), CLIVE (September 1901), and HARDINGE (March 1903).

He served in HARDINGE in Somali waters in support of the military operations in East Africa and was promoted to 2nd Grade Commander on 14 September 1903. In October 1904 he was posted to England for duty with the building of the R.I.M.S. DUFFERIN which he was to Command. This was his last seagoing appointment prior to retiring on 13 July 1907, having served in the Royal Indian Marine for 27 years.