Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, impressed naming (Alex. Turner, P.O. 1st. Cl., H.M.S. Trafalgar.) contact marks, nearly very fine £100-£140

Alexander Turner was born in Southampton on 26 January 1865. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in January 1881 with the rank of Boy 2nd Class and was first posted to H.M.S. St. Vincent, transferring to H.M.S. Alexandra in June 1882. During the Anglo-Egyptian War, Turner was borne in Alexandra when she took part in the Bombardment of Alexandria on the 11 July 1882, when a group of 15 British ships shelled the forts of the city, which were being held by Egyptian soldiers under Ahmed ‘Urabi. It was during this action that Israel Harding, a fellow rating from H.M.S. Alexandra, was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantly picking up a live Egyptian shell from the deck and putting it out before it exploded, thereby saving the lives of many of the ship’s crew. For his service, Turner received an Egypt Medal with the clasp ‘Alexandria 11 July’ and a Khedive’s Star. He remained with Alexandra until September 1885, after which he was transferred to H.M.S. Excellent. Following this posting, Turner went onto serve with various other ships and shore establishments including H.M.S. Calliope, Vernon, Rodney, Pembroke and Achilles. In May 1893 he joined the crew of the battleship H.M.S. Trafalgar and whilst serving with this ship was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.