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

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1887-8 (W. Braham, A.B., H.M.S. Icarus) edge bruise to reverse rim, otherwise good very fine and very scarce

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

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William Braham was born in Tiperary, County Tiperary, Ireland, on 31 March 1860. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. ACHILLES on 15 September 1876 and served next aboard IMPREGNABLE (September 1876), and GANGES (September 1876). In this ship he was advanced to Boy 1st Class on 5 December 1876 and to Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class on 29 May 1878. He joined next ROYAL ADELAIDE (May 1878) and IRON DUKE (July 1878), being advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 1 October 1879 and to Able Seaman on 1 October 1880. He continued to serve in IRON DUKE for nearly four years before next joining REVENGE (March 1883) and served subsequently in ROYAL ADELAIDE (May 1886) and ICARUS (July 1886). In the latter ship he took part in the operations against the Yonnie Tribe in Sierra Leone between November 1887 and January 1888. He served next aboard DUKE OF WELLINGTON (January 1888), ROYAL ADELAIDE (March 1888), DUNCAN (July 1888), FLORA (August 1888), PENELOPE (March 1889), VIVID (November 1890), BLACK PRINCE (February 1891), SWIFTSURE (May 1891), VIVID I (July 1892), ANSON (July 1892), EMPRESS OF INDIA (September 1894) and VIVID I (April 1898). He was pensioned ashore on 18 September 1898 having completed 20 years adult service. His character being assessed as ‘fair’ on six occasions plus having been sentenced to 14 days in cells and 42 days in a civilian goal deprived him of any chance of earning the L.S. & G.C. medal. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Devonport on 17 October 1903 and was invalided ashore on 3 January 1906 and discharged dead from the Royal Fleet Reserve on 6 January 1906.