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

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin River 1894 (J. Keeffe, A.B., H.M.S. Phoebe) very fine

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

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John Keefe was born on 16 January 1868 in Totnes, Devon, and was a baker before entering the service aboard H.M.S. IMPREGNABLE as a Boy 2nd Class on 31 August 1883, when aged 15 years. He was advanced to Boy 1st Class on 13 August 1884 and served in this rate aboard MINOTAUR (February 1885), DUKE OF WELLINGTON (April 1885), VICTOR EMMANUEL (May 1885) and ALBATROSS (July 1885), and was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 18 January 1886. He served next aboard SAPPHIRE (July 1886) and MERLIN (August 1886), where he was advanced to Able Seaman on 1 October 1888, AUDACIOUS (September 1888), ROYAL ADELAIDE (December 1888), CAMBRIDGE, (February 1889), DEFIANCE (November 1889), and CAMBRIDGE (March 1890). Whilst aboard the latter ship he was advanced to Leading Seaman on 9 May 1890, and then joined HOWE (May 1890), VIVID I (May 1892), CAMBRIDGE (June 1892), DEFIANCE (September 1892), and CAMBRIDGE (October 1892), and was advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 2 December 1892.

Having joined PHOEBE in December 1892, he was disrated to Able Seaman on 18 December 1893, readvanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 25 November 1894 but again disrated to Leading Seaman on 5 March 1895. Whilst serving aboard PHOEBE he was landed for the Expedition on the Benin River against Chief Nanna of Broheme in August and September 1894, and was mentioned in the report of Rear Admiral F. G. D. Bedford in the following terms: ‘The Acting Consul-General has brought to my notice, in a letter, the services of John Reeffe (sic) A.B., “Phoebe,” who has worked the Maxim gun for the Houssas, I consider from my personal observation on several occasions that he has thoroughly deserved the praise bestowed upon him.’

He next served aboard SAPPHO (January 1896), VIVID I (March 1896), CAMBRIDGE (June 1896), DEFIANCE (August 1896), CAMBRIDGE (October 1896), VIVID I (November 1896), COLOSSUS (November 1896), VIVID I (March 1897), CAMBRIDGE (March 1897), VIVID I (October 1897), MELAMPUS (December 1897), VIVID I (January 1898), and MAGNIFICENT (January 1898). Whilst in MAGNIFICENT he was again advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 3 July 1898, and to Petty Officer 1st Class on 14 January 1899. In this rank he next joined VIVID I (June 1900), CAMBRIDGE (June 1900), DEFIANCE (February 1901), VIVID I (March 1901) and LAPWING (April 1901). Whilst aboard LAPWING he was discharged dead from typhoid fever on 17 August 1902.