Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Captain’s Steward Justin Sergercet, Royal Navy, who was a member of the R.N. Rocket Brigade as Steward to Commander T. H. B. Fellowes, commanding the Naval Brigade, at the assault and capture of Magdala

Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; Abyssinia 1867 (J. Sergercet Capns. Stewd. H.M.S. Dryad) mounted for display, very fine and rare (2) £1,200-£1,500

Justin Sergercet (and many variations) was born in France on 18 April 1822, and joined the Navy as Carpenter’s Crew aboard H.M.S. Queen on 21 October 1845. He served aboard the Royal George in the Baltic as Able Seaman and later Ward Room Steward. He served aboard the Dryad from 15 May 1867, as Captain’s Steward, to Commander T. H. B. Fellowes, H.M.S. Dryad, and in this capacity accompanied Commander Fellows with the R.N. Rocket Brigade put ashore in Abyssinia and which, on 10 April 1868 at the battle on Arogee Plain, comprised of 100 men (including 13 sick). The brigade, armed with 6-pounder rocket tubes, landed at Annesley Bay below Massowah and accompanied General Napier’s force on the 300 mile march to King Theodore’s capital at Magdala. He was present at the Battle of Arogee, 10 April 1868, and, three days later, at the storming of Magdala. He was discharged to the hospital ship Mauritius for passage to England on 5 June 1868. He subsequently served briefly as Captain’s Steward aboard Urgent and Royal Adelaide, from which ship he was discharged to shore on 12 August 1868. Sold with copied record of service.