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

Four: Jubilee 1897, silver; Coronation 1902, silver; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Alexandria 11th July, Tel-El-Kebir, Suakin 1884 (Lieut. C. J. Noorcock, R.N. H.M.S. “Hecla”); Khedive’s Star 1882, some contact pitting, otherwise very fine or better (4)

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

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Vice Admiral Charles James Norcock died on 13 March 1933, aged 85 years. In his obituary he was referred to as the ‘Sea Daddy’ of the R.N.V.R., entering the R.N. in June 1861. After serving a Commission in China in the IRON DUKE, he decided in 1876 to qualify in the Torpedo Branch, then recently instituted, and joined H.M.S. VERNON, Commander A. K. Wilson (later Admiral of the Fleet V.C.). Later, when Wilson was appointed to the Command of the Torpedo Depot Ship HECLA, Norcock served with him at the bombardment of Alexandria in 1882 as senior and torpedo Lieutenant. Taking part later ashore and being Mentioned in Despatches, he was present in the Suez Canal during the Naval occupation and served at Tel-El-Kebir in September 1882. He was in Command of a Torpedo Party on the Sweet Water Canal and attached to the Naval Flotilla which removed the wounded to Kassassin and Ismailia. He received special promotion to Commander during November 1882 for his actions in Egypt and, reappointed to HECLA, he saw further service aboard her during the Eastern Sudan Operations in 1884. Many adventures ashore of Norcock fighting the Bedouins during August 1882 are recorded in ‘The Life of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Arthur Knyvet Wilson, Bart, V.C., G.C.B., O.M., G.C.V.O., D.C.L.’ by Admiral Sir Edward Bradford, K.C.B., C.V.O.

After Commanding DEFIANCE (1884-87) and CURLEW (1887-89) he was promoted to Captain in June 1899. For three years from 1899 he held the post of Assistant Superintendent of Naval Reserves but was retired a few days prior to promotion to Rear Admiral, a rank he attained on the retired list in October 1902, and that of Vice Admiral on 1 January 1907. He was appointed to the Governing Body of the newly constituted R.N.V.R. in 1903 - the Admiralty Volunteer Committee - and largely assisted in drafting the R.N.V.R. Regulations .... “where his knowledge and experience were indispensable and before he handed over his post to a Commander R.N., he had the satisfaction of seeing the R.N.V.R. firmly established in a manner the value of which was abundantly proved during World War I.”