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

East and West Africa 1887-1900, edge impressed ‘Mwele 1895’, 2 clasps, Brass River 1895, Benin 1897 (Lieut. W. J. Frazer, R.N.R., H.M.S. St George) good very fine

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

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William Frazer joined the Royal Navy Reserve as a Sub Lieutenant on 27 January 1892. In this rank he served aboard H.M.S. ST GEORGE (October 1894) and was promoted to Lieutenant RNR on 27 January 1895. In February 1895 he took part in the punitive Expedition under the Command of Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford, Commanding West Coast of Africa & Cape Station, sent to punish King Koko of Brass. The Naval party, comprising Seamen and Royal Marines, was approximately 150 strong drawn from H.M. Ships BARROSA, ST GEORGE, THRUSH and WIDGEON. Following a number of small skirmishes in the area around Nimbi, the town was taken and burned on 21 February 1895; Fishtown was dealt with in a similar manner on 24 February. On 12 August 1895, he was a member of the Naval Expeditionary force of 400 men from H.M. Ships ST GEORGE (Flag), PHOEBE, RACOON, BARROSA and BLONDE with two maxims, a 7 pdr gun and a rocket tube, together with 110 native troops and 800 porters, who started inland from Mombasa to punish Mburuk bin Rashid, Chief of Mwele. After repulsing an attack at Nololo on 16 August the force arrived before Mwele on the 17th of August. When the 7 pdr gun had thrown a few shells into the stockade, part of the force with two maxims made a flanking movement to the left, while the remainder moved directly forward to within 300 yards of the earthworks. A Company of RACOON's people drew the enemy's fire, while two companies of ST GEORGE's men, under Lieutenants C. P. Carpendale and W. J. Frazer, rushed the stockade. Chief Mburak escaped, but two of his sons were killed and two of his standards were taken, one by Lieutenant Frazer. The British losses were three killed and eleven wounded.

In January 1897 a peaceful mission of Officers was massacred in the bush by orders of the King of Benin. Rear Admiral Harry Rawson was instructed to land a Naval Brigade to capture and reduce the City of Benin. After various fighting and burning of villages by the minor forces, the main advance began on the 14 August 1897, and after a running fight for two days the village of Agagi was reached on the 16th. The wells were found to be dry, this causing a delay until the 17th when the march was resumed. On 18th, after a running bush fight for 5 hours, Benin City was reached and taken.

In between the above two Expeditions, ST GEORGE and her men took part in the bombardment of Zanzibar, putting the Zanzibari warship GLASGOW out of action. Lieutenant Frazer was invited to join the Royal Navy and became a Supplementary Lieutenant with seniority of 31 October 1895. On leaving ST GEORGE he served in this rank aboard the following ships: THESEUS (February 1899), DUKE OF WELLINGTON (July 1902), and EREBUS (April 1904) where he served as 1st Lieutenant, remaining in this capacity until retired at own request with rank of Commander on 31 October 1907. He was recalled for war service and appointed to the Command of CAMBRIA (August 1914) a hired armed boarding steamer, COLUMBINE (August 1915) Flagship Rosyth ‘For Special Service’, and SATELLITE (March 1917). He reverted to the retired list in May 1919, having been promoted to Retired Captain on 11 November 1918, and died on 2 May 1938.