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

Pair: East and West Africa 1887-1900, no clasp, edge impressed ‘Mwele 1895’ (Comr. P. C. Underwood, H.M.S. Racoon); British War Medal (Capt. R.N.) edge bruising, otherwise very fine (2)

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

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Powell Underwood was born in London on 28 October 1849, and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet aboard the Training Ship BRITANNIA on 9 January 1874, aged 14 years. He joined H.M.S. DEFENCE in March 1865 and was promoted to Midshipman on 21 September 1865. He served next aboard RACOON (June 1866), was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 28 April 1870, and next appointed to EXCELLENT (June 1870), NARCISSUS (September 1870), and BEAGLE (October 1872). He was promoted to Lieutenant on 5 June 1875 on joining CAMBRIDGE and subsequently served in this rank aboard EXCELLENT (September 1875), FROLIC (November 1875), KESTREL (April 1876), ROYAL ADELAIDE (February 1880), ASSISTANCE (June 1880), and PRESIDENT (September 1880). He was loaned to the Gold Coast Government from February to June 1881, returning to the Royal Navy aboard BOSCAWEN (April 1882) and GANGES (November 1884) ‘Additional for Command of SEALARK, Boys Training Brig’. He was next appointed to LION (June 1887), THAMES (July 1888), ORWELL (September 1888), TYNE (November 1889), and DUKE OF WELLINGTON (December 1889), and whilst in the latter vessel he was promoted to Commander on 31 December 1889. In this rank he subsequently served aboard EXCELLENT (April 1890) ‘Gunnery Course’, VERNON (June 1890) ‘Torpedo Course’, THAMES (July 1890), NORTHAMPTON (June 1891) and NORTHAMPTON (July 1892). In the latter vessel he was found at fault in allowing the ship’s anchor cable to foul, the Court of Enquiry stating that he should have taken a turn on the cat when the anchor was reported ‘high warps’, cautioned to be more careful.

He joined WILDFIRE for THUNDERER (April 1893) and was then appointed to the Command of RACOON in April 1894. He was reprimanded by their Lordships for allowing RACOON to ground when entering Port Durnford, and judged to have acted unwisely in not examining the bar before crossing. Whilst in Command of RACOON he took part in the Mwele Expedition in August 1895 and received the thanks of General Sir F. C. SCOTT, in Command of the 1895-6 Ashantee Expedition, for valuable services rendered by him. He was also praised by Rear Admiral Rawson for good services on the occasion of the bombardment of the Sultan of Zanzibar's Palace on 27 August 1896.

He was placed on the Retired List at own request with rank of Captain on 24 January 1898, and in October 1903 he was granted permission to accept an appointment as Nautical Assessor to the High Courts of Justice. He was awarded a Naval Good Service Pension of £65 per annum on 19 October 1911. Although aged 65 at the outbreak of World War I he offered his services to the Admiralty and was appointed a Captain R.N.R. and was given Command of the armed boarding yacht NORTH STAR II for service in the Mediterranean. He was admitted to the military hospital at Ras-el-Tim, Alexandria, on 19 May 1917 suffering from diabetes and died on 4 June 1917. He was buried at the Hadra War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.