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

Four: Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Tel-El-Kebir (T. Hayes, A.B., H.M.S. Orion) impressed naming and possibly a later issue; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Witu 1890 (T. Hayes, P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Boadicea); China 1900, 2 clasps, Taku Forts, Relief of Pekin (J. Hayes, P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Endymion) note incorrect initial; Khedive’s Star 1882, some pitting, otherwise nearly very fine or better and a rare Naval Brigade group (4)

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

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41 Tel-El-Kebir issued clasps to H.M.S. ORION, and 312 Witu 1890 clasps to H.M.S. BOADICEA.

Thomas Hayes was born in Westham, Essex, on 12 October 1860 and joined the service as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. FISGARD on 3 March 1876. He served aboard BOSCAWEN (1876-77) where he was advanced to Boy 1st Class during March 1877, FAWN (1877-80) where he was made an Ord in October 1878 and an A.B. in June 1880, and ORION (28 June 1882 to 5 May 1883) where he was landed for service with the Naval Brigade and fought at the battle of Tel-El-Kebir. He served next aboard, ALEXANDRA (1883-84), HERCULES (1885-87), and BOADICEA (26 April 1888 TO 23 June 1891) from which he was again landed for Naval Brigade service as part of the Expedition sent to punish Chief Fumo Bakari in 1890. He had received advancement to Leading Seaman in November 1888, to Petty Officer 2nd Class in October 1889 and to Petty Officer 1st Class a year later, completing his service time aboard SEVERN (1892-95), ROYAL SOVEREIGN (1895-97), and ENDYMION (1899-1902) where he participated in the Third China War, again landing for Naval Brigade service. He signed on for an additional five years on 20 August 1898, and was pensioned to shore on 23 October 1903.