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

Six: Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., obverse centre depressed; South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (Sub. Lieut. H. N. Rolfe, R.N., H.M.S. “Euphrates”) official correction to surname; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Lieut. H. N. Rolfe, R.N. H.M.S. “Euryalus”); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. (Capt. H. N. Rolfe, R.N.); Khedive’s Star 1882, very fine or better and a rare combination (6)

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

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Herbert N. Rolfe was born on 16 June 1854 in Sedgeford, Norfolk. First entered the service as a Naval Cadet aboard H.M.S. ST GEORGE on 8 December 1868, and joined H.M.S. BRITANNIA on 7 May 1869 receiving promotion to Navigating Sub Lieutenant on 23 December 1869. Five years later he was allowed to transfer from the Navigating Branch to the Executive Seaman Branch when made a Sub Lieutenant (without the ‘Navigating’ prefix) on 28 December 1874. Appointed as a Sub Lieutenant to DUKE OF WELLINGTON on 9 November 1876 after passing for Lieutenant the day previous, closely followed by a few months aboard EXCELLENT before being moved to H.M.S. EUPHRATES on 25 July 1878 until 19 September 1879.

He subsequently served aboard H.M.Ships BACCHANTE (1879-80) during which time he was promoted to Lieutenant on 8 December 1879, and LILY (July 1882 to January 1883) according to his official service record - but he must have been loaned to EURYALUS covering the period 22 July to 14 September 1882 for the Egypt campaign as the roll for that vessel shows him as fully entitled. His next ships were ALBATROSS (1883-86), CARYSFORT (1887-91), HOWE (1893-96) in which vessel he was promoted to Commander to date from 1 January 1894, and COCKATRICE (1898-1901). He retired as a Captain on 9 November 1902.

He re-entered the Active List as a Captain for World War One on 21 March 1915 aboard the Amed Patrol Yacht JOLAIRE based at Gibraltar until November 1918. Under the General Citation of ‘in recognition of services in the prosecution of the War’ in the London Gazette dated 3 June 1918, he was awarded the D.S.O. He reverted to Retired List on 23 June 1919 and died on 22 February 1942.