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

Three: East and West Africa 1887-1900, no clasp, edge impressed ‘Mwele 1895’ (Sub-Lieut. G. G. Codrington, H.M.S. St George); British War Medal (Commr. R.N.); Coronation 1902, silver; together with: 1914-15 Star Trio (Eng.Lt.Cr./Eng. Commr. C. A. Codrington R.N.) generally good very fine (6)

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

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George Codrington was born in Richmond, Surrey on 2 May 1874. He was a distant relative of Admiral Sir Edward Codrington who fought with Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and Commanded the Allied Fleets at Navarino. He entered the service as a Naval Cadet aboard the BRITANNIA on 15 July 1887 when aged 13 years. He obtained two 1st Class, two 2nd Class and two 3rd Class Certificates on passing out of BRITANNIA and gained 6 month's seniority. He was appointed to BELLEROPHON (September 1889) and promoted to Midshipman on 15 January 1890. He served next aboard the following ships, ROYAL SOVEREIGN (May 1892), VOLAGE (May 1893), and NARCISSUS (July 1893) where he received promotion to Acting Sub Lieutenant on 14 October 1894. He studied at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich (November 1893) and then joined SCYLLA (July 1894) and whilst in this ship he was confirmed in the rank of Sub Lieutenant with seniority of 14 October 1893. He was appointed to St GEORGE (November 1894) Flag Ship of Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford, K.C.B., Commander-in-Chief Cape of Good Hope & West Coast of Africa, and whilst in this vessel he took part in the 1895 Expedition against Chief Mburak of Mwele. Sub Lieut Codrington commanded the Maxim gun at the attack on the main stockade at Mwele: “Searching the ground in front and on both flanks with the Maxim, some of the enemy (who had run out to man the rifle pits) were driven back into the wood whilst the first and second columns marched off to the left for the points they had been ordered to attack”.

He served next aboard VIVID (October 1896) for duty at Royal Naval Barracks and was then appointed to ST VINCENT (November 1896), CALYPSO (May 1897), ILLUSTRIOUS (May 1898), PORCUPINE (January 1902) In Command, and for service aboard AUDACIOUS, ANGULAR, and HARDY. During the Jubilee Fleet Review of 1902 he Commanded ANGLER and was awarded the Coronation Medal. He was subsequently appointed to TAMAR (October 1893), and whilst in this ship he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 31 December 1903, PRESIDENT (September 1904) for War Course, VIVID (January 1905), PEMBROKE (July 1905), WEAR In Command, PRESIDENT (August 1907) for Coast Guard Service, PRESIDENT (February 1912) for duty with Reserves Office, VERNON (February 1912) for Wireless Telegraphy Course, PRESIDENT (March 1912) for Cleethorpes Wireless Telegraphy Station. He remained in this posting until placed on the Retired List on 15 September 1919 with rank of Commander, having served as an Acting Commander since 22 June 1916. He was awarded a Naval Pension of £50 per annum with effect from 28 February 1943, and died on 29 September 1946. The group is sold with a hall marked silver napkin ring engraved with the family crest and with the name and date of each ship in which he served, and a portrait photograph.

Claude Codrington was born in 1879 and entered the Royal Navy as a Probationary Assistant Engineer on 1 July 1899, joining his first ship H.M.S. ST GEORGE in October 1899, and promoted to Assistant Engineer on 1 July 1900. He next served aboard ROYAL ARTHUR (April 1901) and following the introduction of the new ranks in 1903 he became an Engineer Sub Lieutenant with seniority of 1 July 1903. He was promoted to Engineer Lieutenant on 1 June 1904 and next joined COCHRANE (August 1906), POWERFUL (October 1908) and HUSSAR (May 1911). During service in the latter vessel he was promoted to Engineer Lieutenant Commander on 1 June 1912. In this rank he was next appointed to DIAMOND (December 1913) and VALENTINE (May 1917). On promotion to Engineer Commander on 1 September 1917 he was subsequently appointed to CHAMPION (October 1917) and served in this ship until he was retired in November 1919 after 20 years service. Sold with his original Royal Naval College, Greenwich, Educational Certificate (1900), his Commission as Assistant Engineer (13 October 1900) and some photographs.