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

Four: East and West Africa 1887-1900, edge impressed ‘Mwele 1895’, 2 clasps, Witu 1890, Benin 1897 (W. N. England, Mid., H.M.S. Boadicea); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Lieut. Commdr. W. N. England, H.M.S. Dwarf); British War Medal (Capt. R.N.); Order of the Brilliant Star of Zanzibar, Sultan Hamad, 3rd class neck badge, second type with portrait of the Sultan, silver-gilt and enamels, contained in its damaged Ch. Billard, Paris case of issue, the lid embossed with the Sultan’s tughra, slight damage to two ball points on the last, otherwise good very fine (4)

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

View
Collection

William England was born on 6 September 1872, son of Captain W. G. England, R.N. He entered the service as a Naval Cadet aboard the Training Ship BRITANNIA on 15 July 1885. On passing out of BRITANNIA he gained 8 month's seniority having obtained four 1st Class and two 2nd Class Certificates, and was accordingly promoted to Midshipman without examination on 15 November 1887. He joined BACCHANTE (July 1887), and then BOADICEA (July 1888) from which he was landed as part of the Expedition sent to punish the Sultan of Witu and thus earned the East & West Africa Medal with clasp ‘Witu 1890’.

He was next appointed to ACTIVE (November 1890), and BENBOW (January 1891). Lent to ALEXANDRIA (July 1892) where he received promotion to Lieutenant on 14 May 1893, and subsequently served aboard NARCISSUS (August 1893), ENDYMION (May 1894) and St GEORGE (May 1895). In the latter vessel he served as Flag Lieutenant to Rear Admiral Harry Rawson, Commander in Chief Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa, and took part in the operations against Chief Mburak at Mwele in 1895, and was mentioned in Admiral Rawson's Despatch as 'Assisted me most ably'. He was present at the bombardment of the Sultan's Palace at Zanzibar in August 1896, and again mentioned by Admiral Rawson as 'Rendered very great assistance'. In February 1897 he took part in the Benin Expedition being further mentioned in Despatches as 'assisted office staff whilst acting as Flag Lieutenant and Camp Master'.

His next appointments were to VICTORY (September 1898), additional for Command of HORNET, TEAZER and EAGLE (October 1899), additional for Transport Service at Liverpool and Birkenhead. He next joined ARETHUSA (November 1899) where he served as 1st Lieutenant, and in the same capacity he joined MELAMPUS in April 1900. He was appointed to the Command of DWARF in August 1901 for service in the waters of the Cape Station during the Boer War, and was promoted to Commander on 31 December 1904.

He subsequently served aboard HALCYON (January 1905) for Command of TIGER, OSPREY and TEVIOTT. He was next appointed to NIOBE (April 1906), LEVIATHAN (March 1908), NELSON (July 1909) In Command, GLORY (August 1912), and PRESIDENT (November 1912) for Coast Guard service at Lymington. In August 1914 he was appointed to Portland Naval Centre, serving at this location until July 1918 when he joined AMBITIOUS, in Command, and was promoted to Acting Captain on 2 August 1918, serving until retired medically unfit on 26 August 1918. His war service was recognised by promotion to Captain on the Retired List on 26 August 1919. He died on 5 February 1929.