Auction Catalogue

27 June 2002

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria including the collection to Naval Artificers formed by JH Deacon

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1301

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27 June 2002

Hammer Price:
£4,500

An outstanding Naval Brigade campaign group of five to Petty Officer Edwin Coombs, Royal Navy

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (A.B. H.M.S. “Active”); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, Gemaizah 1888 (Qr. Mr. H.M.S. Starling); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Liwondi 1893 (P.O. 1 Cl. H.M.S. Mosquito); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (P.O. 1st Cl., H.M.S. St Vincent); Khedive’s Star, undated, light contact marks and polishing but generally very fine and unique (5) £3500-4000

Only 124 clasps for ‘1877-8-9’ to the Royal Navy, including 119 to Active; 194 clasps for ‘Gemaizah 1888’, including 61 to Starling; and just 33 clasps for ‘Liwondi 1893’, including 17 to Mosquito. This outstanding combination of clasps represents an unique group of campaign medals.

Edwin Coombs was born at Fovant, Wiltshire, on 22 April 1858, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 1st Class on 17 March 1875. He served aboard
Active as an Able Seaman from April 1877 until October 1879; aboard Starling as Quarter-Master and Petty Officer 1st Class from July 1886 until January 1890; and aboard Mosquito as Petty Officer 1st Class from January 1892 until June 1893. He received his L.S. & G.C. Medal in January 1891 whilst serving aboard St Vincent and was discharged to pension on 1 May 1896. Sold with copy service record and further detailed research.