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

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Gambia 1894 (R. B. H. Moore, Payr. R.N. H.M.S. Magpie) some official corrections to latter part of naming, otherwise good very fine

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

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Ralph Moore entered the Royal Navy as an Assistant Clerk aboard H.M.S. DUKE OF WELLINGTON on 15 June 1883. He next served aboard TAMAR (March 1883), and DIDO (March 1883). Whilst in the latter vessel he was promoted to Clerk on 15 January 1884, and returned to DUKE OF WELLINGTON (September 1886) prior to joining HOTSPUR (December 1886) and NEPTUNE (May 1887) where he was promoted to Assistant Paymaster on 16 June 1887. He subsequently served in this rank aboard VOLAGE (September 1889), and MAGPIE (April, 1893). During service in the latter vessel as Assistant Paymaster in Charge, he was landed for service ashore with the Naval Brigade at Bathurst, Gambia, under Rear Admiral F. G. Bedford, sent to punish the rebellious slave raiding Chief Fodi Silah. He was later landed for the defence of Malindi, East Coast of Africa, in the operations against the Rebel Chief Mbaruk 16-23 June 1895. He was present at the storming and capture of Mbaruk's stronghold at Arabuju by the Naval Brigade landed under the Command of Captain McGill R.N., from H.M. Ships PHOEBE, SWALLOW and MAGPIE. He was next appointed to ALGERINE (February 1897) as Assistant Paymaster in Charge, and DUKE OF WELLINGTON (November 1898), promoted to Paymaster on 29 April 1899 and appointed to BOSCAWEN (September 1900) and PENGUIN (August 1902). He was promoted to Staff Paymaster on 20 April 1903 and continued to serve in PENGUIN until he joined BLENHEIM in June 1905. He was promoted to Fleet Paymaster on 20 April 1907 and next appointed to ENCOUNTER (November 1907) but was discharged dead on 8 December 1908, having committed suicide after an abdominal attack brought on by chronic dysentery.