Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Rear-Admiral Ralph Hudleston, Royal Navy, who was awarded the French Ministry of Marine gold medal for saving life off the coast of Quilty, Ireland, in October 1907

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (R. Huddleston. Midn. R.N. H.M.S. “Achilles”); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (Sub-Lieut. R. Hudleston, R.N. H.M.S. Bacchante.); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Gambia 1894 (Lieut. R. Hudleston R.N., H.M.S. Raleigh.); Khedive's Star 1882; France, Ministry of Marine Medal for Courage and Devotion, gold (Hudleston, R. 1908) embossed naming, mounted for display, good very fine or netter (5)
£1200-1500

Ralph Hudleston entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet in 1877. He was appointed Midshipman in 1879 and served in the Egyptian campaign of 1882 on board H.M.S. Achilles (Medal). Commissioned a Sub-Lieutenant in 1883, he served aboard H.M.S. Bacchante during the Burma campaign of 1885-7, and served with the Naval Brigade, landed with the Army, during the Burma Annexation war (Medal with clasp). As Torpedo Lieutenant of the Raleigh, served in the Naval Brigade landed by Rear-Admiral F. G. D. Bedford, C.B., at Bathurst, on the River Gambia, West Coast of Africa, in February 1894, in co-operation with two companies of the 1st West India Regiment, for the punishment of Fodi Silah, a rebellious slave-raiding chief (Medal with clasp) Mentioned in despatches London Gazette 4 May 1894, and praised by Admiralty. Was Captain of Actaeon, torpedo school-ship at Sheerness, June 1905 to August 1907.

While in command of Arrogant, assisted in saving the lives of the Captain and eight sailors who were wrecked in the French ship Leon XIII, off the coast of Quilty, Ireland, on 7 October 1907, for which service he was awarded the “Medaille de Sauvetage” (in gold) by the French Government, and received King Edward’s gracious permission to accept and wear the same; also received a Commemoration Medal from the Society of Shipowners of France, with a resolution thanking the Captain, officers and men of Arrogant for their services on the occasion.

Captain Hudleston was placed on the Retired List in April 1912, and advanced to Rear-Admiral on the Retired List in June 1916. Rear Admiral Hudleston died on 17 April 1944.