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

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Gambia 1894 (R. W. Norris, Qual. Sig., H.M.S. Satellite) nearly extremely fine

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

View
Collection

Robert Norris was born on 27 November 1860 in Ryde, Southampton, and entered the service as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. ST VINCENT on 22 December 1895 when aged 15 years. Advanced to Boy 1st Class 27 December 1876 and joined TEMERAIRE (August 1877). He joined the Signal Branch and was rated Signaller on 4 August 1877, advanced to Signalman 3rd Class on 27 November 1878 and to Signalman 2nd Class 1 November 1879. He served next aboard CONDOR (July 1880) and TEMERAIRE (July 1880) where he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 27 June 1880 and to Signalman 2nd Class on 20 December 1880. He subsequently served aboard DUKE OF WELLINGTON (January 1881), EXCELLENT (November 1881), DUKE OF WELLINGTON (April 1883), LORD WARDEN (June 1883), SERAPIS (June 1883), DUKE OF WELLINGTON (July 1883), CHAMPION (October 1883), DUNCAN (June 1887), DUKE OF WELLINGTON (September 1887) and TEMERAIRE (November 1887). During a full three year Commission aboard the latter ship he was advanced to Qualified Signalman on 10 August 1888, to Leading Signalman on 1 October 1888, and to 2nd Yeoman of Signals on 1 January 1889. He was disrated to Leading Signalman on 5 December 1889 and to Qualified Signalman on 19 May 1890. He next joined DUKE OF WELLINGTON (June 1891), and CAMPERDOWN (September 1891) and readvanced to 2nd Yeoman of Signals on 28 January 1892.

He was aboard CAMPERDOWN when she was in collision with VICTORIA, when Admiral Tryon, Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet, along with 22 Officers and 336 Men lost their lives. He next joined ROYAL SOVEREIGN where he was again disrated to Qualified Signalman on 11 January 1893, and subsequently served aboard VIVID I (January 1893), VICTORY I (January 1893), NELSON (May 1893), VICTORY I (July 1893), NELSON (September 1893), HOWE (October 1893), VICTORY (December 1893) and SATELLITE (January 1894). Whilst in this ship he was landed for service on shore as a member of the Naval Brigade under Rear Admiral F. G. Bedford, sent to punish the slave raiding Chief Fodeh Silah in February 1894. He served for the remainder of his service career as Qualified Signalman aboard ROYAL ARTHUR (January 1896), VICTORY I (September 1896), EXCELLENT (November 1896), VICTORY III (January 1897), INFLEXIBLE (March 1897), TRAFALGAR (October 1897), VICTORY II (August 1898) and VICTORY I (October 1898). He was invalided ashore from Haslar Hospital on 6 January 1899 with 18 years adult service. He was never a candidate for the L.S. & G.C. medal, having on two occasions deserted, spent 28 days in Lewes Goal in 1893, and on a further seven occasions been punished by detention in cells. He reported for War service on 2 August 1914 but was found to be medically unfit and discharged ashore on the same day.