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

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1891-2 (W. G. Arthur, A.B., H.M.S. Sparrow) light contact marks, therefore nearly very fine

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

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William Arthur was born in St Mary's, Pembroke, on 29 August 1864. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. NANKIN on 23 November 1880, and subsequently served aboard H.M. Ships IMPREGNABLE (1880-82) where he was advanced to Boy 1st Class during November 1881, SULTAN (1882-84), where he was made an Ord in January 1883 and an A.B. during January 1884, THUNDERER (1885-88), EXCELLENT (1888-90), and SPARROW (13 May 1890 to 29 May 1892). In the latter vessel he was advanced to Leading Seaman in May 1890 but was later twice disrated to A.B., and was landed for the Expedition against Chief Fodeh Cabbah to earn his East & West Africa medal. He next joined INFLEXIBLE (1893-94) where he regained his rate of Leading Seaman in October 1894, and GIBRALTAR (1894-95) but reverted once more to A.B. during January 1895. He was invalided from the service on 11 October 1896, and died soon afterwards on 25 January 1897. His misconduct deprived him of any chance of earning the L.S. & G.C. medal.