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

East and West Africa 1887-1900, no clasp, edge impressed ‘Mwele 1895’ (D. H. Carmichael, Midn. H.M.S. St George) very fine

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

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Duncan Carmichael was born in Camberwell, Surrey, on 21 July 1876. He entered the Royal Navy direct from the Training Ship CONWAY, joining Britannia Naval College on 15 July 1890. As a Naval Cadet he was appointed to HOWE (August 1892) and NARCISSUS (November 1892). Promoted to Midshipman on 15 February 1893, he joined RALEIGH (May 1893) and ST GEORGE (October 1894) and in the latter vessel he took part in the operations against the rebellious Chief Mbaruk in 1895. He was promoted to Acting Sub Lieutenant on 15 August 1896, and later confirmed in the rank with seniority of the same date. He was next appointed to CAMPERDOWN (October 1897). The Commander in Chief, Mediterranean promoted him to Acting Lieutenant on 27 May 1898, vice SALWEY, and he was later confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant with seniority of 31 December 1898.

As Lieutenant he was next appointed to the Boy Training Ship IMPREGNABLE (September 1899) and subsequently joined MUTINE (November 1901) as 1st Lieutenant and served four and a half years in this ship, mainly on the China Station. On returning to England he was appointed to the Command of GALA in June 1905, and next appointed to PEMBROKE for Command of the following small Destroyers: USK (October 1905), DOVE (April 1906), USK (May 1906) and LEE (November 1906) and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 31 December 1906. Following the collision between USK and VULTURE the Court of Enquiry held in 1906 found him negligent and warned him to be more careful in future. He appears not to have heeded this advice for whilst in Command of the Destroyer LEE he was dismissed his ship and reprimanded by sentence of Court Martial for hazarding, standing and losing H.M.S. LEE near Blackwood Bay on 5 October 1909. He was next appointed 1st Lieutenant of ALBION (December 1909) and whilst in this vessel he again incurred their Lordship's severe displeasure for misconduct as Mess President in allowing Officers’ wine accounts to be kept irregularly and allowing bottles of spirits to be issued to Officers contrary to Admiralty Orders and Kings Regulations. As punishment he was ordered to be superseded on 24 January 1911. He retired at own request on 25 January 1912, but was recalled for war service in September 1914 and joined VICTORY for duties with the R.N. Division at Crystal Palace as Provost Marshall. He served until 4 August 1915 when he was discharged to shore medically unfit for further service. In November 1915 he was granted permission to proceed to South Africa to be employed with the German East Africa Expeditionary Force. He died at Pretoria Hospital, South Africa, on 9 June 1916.