Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Commissioned Boatman W. Epsley, Royal Navy

Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (W. Epsley, Ship’s Cook. H.M.S. Rattlesnake. 73-74); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Willm. Epsley. Comd. Boatn. H.M. Coast Guard) minor edge nicks, good very fine (2) £280-320

William Epsley was born in Deal, Kent, on 11 July 1839, and joined the Royal Navy on 17 January 1856 as a Boy 2nd Class. Advanced Seaman Gunner 1st Class on 1 September 1862, he was posted to H.M.S. Pylades on 4 December of that year. Shore demobilised when his time expired on 4 September 1867, he signed on again from the Reserve on 2 September 1870, and joined H.M.S. Rattlesnake as a Leading Seaman. Promoted 2nd Captain of the Quarter Deck on 25 October, he was advanced to Acting Ship’s Cook on 16 February 1871, receiving the full rate on 1 April of that year. He served in Rattlesnake during the operations on and off the Gold Coast, before returning to England on 25 March 1874. Posted to the Naval Barracks at Sheerness as a Petty Officer 2nd Class, he served as a Boatman with the Queensborough Coast Guard, and was promoted Commissioned Boatman at Scrapegate Coast Guard Station on 25 January 1879. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 20 January 1881, shortly before being pensioned off on 23 June 1881. He died in Woolwich in March 1925.

Note: Epsley is listed on the Roll under H.M.S. Pylades for the Canada General Service Medal 1866-70 with clasp Fenian Raid 1866, but there is no (M) beside his name, so it is unlikely that he received the medal. He is not listed in the latest published transcript of recipients.