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

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, 1891-2, Witu August 1893 (J. G. Steed, S.B. Att., H.M.S. Racer) very fine

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

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John Steed was born in Talland, Cornwall, on 23 June 1869. He entered the service as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. BOSCAWEN on 6 April 1885, and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in April 1886. Whilst aboard DUKE OF WELLINGTON he changed his Branch, being made a Sick Berth Attendant on 23 June 1887, and subsequently served aboard MISTLETOE (1889-91), and RACER (21 April 1891 to 8 May 1893) from which ship he was landed for service with the Naval Brigade which formed part of the Gambia Expedition against Chief Cabba, earning the clasp ‘1891-2’. He was advanced to 2nd S.B. Steward on 1 April 1892, and next served aboard SWALLOW (1893-95) where he earned the additional clasp ‘Witu August 1893’ for the Expedition against the Sultan of Witu. He was advanced to Sick Berth Steward on 1 April 1896 whilst on board VICTORY and subsequently served aboard MINOTAUR (1896-98), JUPITER (1898-1900), PHAETON (1900-02) where he earned his L.S. & G.C. award on 5 September 1902 and advancement to Chief S.B.S. on 1 April 1903. He then was placed ashore to serve in Plymouth Naval Hospital (1903-1907) and pensioned to shore on 23 June 1909. He was mobilised for war service on 9 September 1915 as a Chief S.B.S. and served on shore until demobilised on 10 March 1919.