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

Pair: The Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., breast badge in silver-gilt and enamels, complete with ribbon buckle; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (Comdr. R. Y. Heriz, R.N. S.S. Malacca) good very fine and rare (2)

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

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Reginald Heriz (previously Smith) was born on 20 January 1851, and entered the service as a Cadet aboard the Training Ship BRITANNIA on 9 August 1864. He was promoted to Midshipman 17 January 1866, Acting Sub Lieutenant 25 July 1870, and Sub Lieutenant 25 October 1870. Appointed to LIFFEY (November 1870), he served next aboard PEMBROKE (May 1871), GLASGOW (October 1871), NORTHUMBERLAND (May 1872), DUKE OF WELLINGTON (November 1873) and INVINCIBLE (October 1874). He was promoted to Lieutenant 8 October 1874, and subsequently served in this rank at the R.N. College Greenwich (January 1876). He next joined JUMNA (April 1877), RESISTANCE (July 1877), JUMNA (February 1879), IMPREGNABLE (February 1881) and DARING (December 1883). In 1884 he was loaned to ORONTES for service ashore where he Commanded a detachment of the Naval Brigade landed to Garrison Port Said during the operations of the Expeditionary Force in the Sudan.

He was appointed to VERNON (April 1884) for 'Torpedo Course', CAMBRIDGE (June 1884) for 'Gunnery Course', AGAMEMNON (October 1884), and appointed to Command STARLING (September 1886). Whilst in this vessel he received the thanks of the Board of Trade on account of his services on the occasion of the wreck of the Steamship AFRICAN in March 1887. He was Court Martialled on 22 April 1887 for the stranding of STARLING by default, and sentenced to be dismissed ship. He served next aboard THALIA (June 1887), and ESPOIR (December 1887) in Command, and was promoted to Commander on 31 December 1889. In September 1890 he assumed the surname of Heriz, and was next appointed to VIVID (December 1891). In November 1892 he suffered a deterioration in his health and following hospitalisation he was declared medically unfit for further service suffering from chronic dyspepsia and rheumatic gout. He was placed on the Retired List on 28 February 1893 having served nearly thirty years.

Following retirement he served for a short period on the Staff of the Director of Transports during 1896 and 1897 and during this period served aboard the Indian Troopship MALACCA, earning one of only two East & West Africa medals to the ship. In June 1897 he was appointed Transport Officer aboard SS DANUBE for the Jubilee Review but was discharged from the Transport Service on 26 May 1898. He joined DEFENCE (February 1899) for a Retired Officers Short Torpedo Course, and was appointed to PRESIDENT (September 1889) for temporary service at the Admiralty with the Transport Department to assist in the supervision of the fitting out of hospital ships for South Africa. As Divisional Transport Officer at Southampton, he received their Lordship's approval of his services during the South African War and was created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George on 25 November 1902 ‘For services rendered as Divisional Transport Officer at Southampton’. He was promoted to Retired Captain on 24 April 1902, and died on 24 February 1910.