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

Royal Marine Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., Field Marshal’s bust (Ply.54 John Booker, Colour Sergeant, R.M.L.I.) very fine

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

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Approximately 35 M.S.M’s of this type were awarded.

John Booker was born on 28 May 1846 at Alcester, Warwickshire, and was a butcher before he enlisted in the Portsmouth Division on his eighteenth birthday. He served afloat aboard six different ships for short periods (1866-81), during which time he recieved promotion to Corporal in June 1865, to Sergeant in May 1869, to Colour Sergeant on 10 July 1874 and to Master at Arms Colour Sergeant in November 1876. His only full commision at sea was in H.M.S. SERAPIS as a Colour Sergeant from July 1882 to June 1885, earning him the Egypt medal without clasp. Earlier, in 1875, he had been awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal after only eleven years service, conforming with the recently introduced new rules allowing the reward for only ten or more years servitude. He was pensioned wth 21 years service on 23 June 1885 and died in March 1919, one year after receiving his Meritorious Service Medal and annuity which had commenced on 8 March 1918.