Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (D. C. Roberts, Clerk, R.N. H.M.S. Bacchante.) traces of lacquer, light pitting, very fine £240-£280

Desmond Carrington Roberts was born in Aberystwyth, Wales, on 9 September 1865 and joined the Royal Navy as an Assistant Clerk on 15 July 1882. He served in H.M.S. Alexandra and H.M.S. Superb during the Egyptian campaign of 1882, and passed for Clerk on 15 July 1883. He saw further service in H.M.S. Bacchante in the East Indies from November 1885 to April 90, and took charge of victualling in eight days’ march against Dacoits in Chendwin District in Burma in 1185, being Mentioned in Commander Barlow’s Despatch of 26 February 1886 for being ‘of great assistance.’

Roberts was advanced Assistant Paymaster on 9 September 1886, and was promoted Paymaster on 1 April 1899, and Fleet Paymaster on 1 April 1907. He relinquished his commission on 24 February 1912- his testimonials almost uniformly praise him for being a zealous officer.