Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, Benin River 1894, Brass River 1895 (S. Saunders, Lg. Sign., H.M.S. Widgeon) good very fine £500-600

Ex D.N.W. 12 February 1997.

All recipients of these two clasps came from H.M.S. Widgeon.

Stephen Saunders was born on 14 March 1872 in Settly Harsted, Sussex. He was a groom before joining the Royal Navy, entering the service aboard H.M.S. St. Vincent as a Boy 2nd Class on 14 April 1887, aged 15 years. He was advanced to Boy 1st Class on 14 March 1888 and elected to join the Signal Branch serving as a Boy Signaller aboard Icarus (December 1888). He was advanced to Signalman on 14 March 1890 prior to joining Duke of Wellington (May 1890) where he was advanced to Qualified Signalman on 19 November 1890. He subsequently served in this rate aboard the following Ships and Shore establishments: Active (December 1890), Victory (October 1892), Vivid I (December 1892), and Widgeon (September 1893). Whilst aboard Widgeon he took part in the Expedition against Chief Nanna of Broheme in August and September 1894, was landed as part of the Expedition against King Koko in February 1895, and also took part in the Expedition against the Arab Mazrui Tribe in August 1895. His services in these Expeditions were recognised by the award of the East & West Africa medal with clasps ‘Benin River 1894’ and ‘Brass River 1895’. The Medal Roll also confirms entitlement to ‘Mwele 1895’ but he obviously did not take the trouble to return his medal for this to be impressed on it’s edge. Whilst in Widgeon he was advanced to Leading Signalman on 9 October 1893. As a Leading Signalman he served next aboard Melpomene (November 1896) and Vivid I (February 1897) where he was advanced to 2nd Yeoman of Signals on 31 March 1897. He next joined Magnificent (January 1899) and Melampus (March 1900) prior to being loaned to the Coast Guard Service (April 1900) where he served as a Boatman at Kingstown, Donaghadee and Whitehead. He was later transferred to North of Ireland District in August 1903 and returned to Naval service as 2nd Yeoman of Signals at Vivid I (October 1906). He subsequently joined Talbot (April 1907) and was advanced to Yeoman of Signals, and next joined Terrible (July 1909), Pyramus (September 1909), Penguin (May 1910), Gibraltar (September 1910), Challenger (December 1910), Powerful (December 1911), and returned to Vivid I (February 1912). He was pensioned ashore on 31 March 1912 after 22 years service and awarded his L.S. & G.C. medal in 1908 whilst serving aboard Talbot. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Devonport on 20 April 1912 and was mobilised as a Yeoman of Signals aboard Doris on 2 August 1914. He next joined Glory (September 1914), Victory I (April 1916), Vivid (May 1916), and Iolaire (25 May 1916) serving in this ship until demobilised on 25 May 1919.