Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China 1900, no clasp (W. H. R. Savidge, Lg. Smn., H.M.S. Goliath.) edge bruising, nearly very fine £160-£200

William Henry Richard Savidge was born in London on 21 March 1877 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 26 March 1892. He served in H.M.S. Goliath from 7 April 1900 to 8 October 1903, and joined the shore-based establishment H.M.S. Vivid I on 4 February 1905, for service with H.M.S. Avon (which vessel was used for the instruction of Cadets at Dartmouth). He was soon after involved in a serious accident which resulted in him losing his left arm- his service papers confirm that:
‘27 February 1905. Finding as the Court of Inquiry as the accident to Savidge on Avon, by which he lost an arm, and who were of the opinion that it was caused by his placing his arm under the canted leg of the shackle when unshackling from a buoy. No blame is attributed to anyone, and every possible means were taken to extricate him.’

Savidge was invalided from the Service on 11 May 1905, and was subsequently employed as a Barge Coal Trimmer. He was arrested for the murder of Albert Searle following a pub brawl in 1911, was subsequently found guilty of manslaughter, and was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment. He died in Lambeth in 1958.

Sold with copied record of service, medal roll extract, and other research.