Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China 1900, no clasp (Lieut. Commr. W. O. Lyne, H.M.S. Waterwitch.) very fine and scarce £600-£800

Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996.

Approximately 80 medals, all without clasp, awarded to the iron Screw Survey Vessel H.M.S. Waterwitch.

William Owen Lyne was born at Newport, Monmouthshire, on 9 October 1862. His father was Paymaster C. Lyne, R.N. He joined as a Cadet in Britannia on 15 July 1875, but was discharged on 31 July 1877, having failed his training ship exams - but his discharge was cancelled and he was allowed to return to Britannia for another term. Midshipman, 22 March 1878; Acting Sub-Lieutenant, 21 June 1882, confirmed 20 September 1882; Lieutenant, 31 December 1885; Assistant Surveyor 4th Class in 1885 whilst in Flying Fish on the China Station and remained in her until 18 June 1887. Hydrographer 3rd Class from 1 January 1887. He attended the Naval Review in the summer of 1887 in Arethusa. He next served in Myrmidon, November 1887 to January 1889 (N.W. coast of Australia) and Rambler, February 1889 to July 1891 (China Sea and Australia).

Hydrographer 2nd Class from 27 April 1889; Hydrographer 1st Class from 7 April 1891. In Stork (East Coast of Africa and the Mediterranean) December 1891 to March 1894; Research June to 30 August 1894 (but mainly on sick leave) then back to Rambler (W. coast of Africa and West Indies) November 1894 to December 1897, followed by Triton (E. coast of England) March 1898 to February 1900.

He was appointed to the command of Waterwitch from 16 February 1900, his first rôle as a Charge Surveyor, and for two years surveyed on the coasts of China and Borneo. He was temporarily in charge of the Shanghai division when, on the Boxer outbreak in 1900, the Senior Naval Officer left for Nanking. He then made an important survey of the north channel of the Yangtze assisted by an officer of the Chinese Customs and also aided by the manufacture of special floating beacons carried in H.M. Ships. The following year he found the danger reported by the S.S. Socotra in the Yellow Sea approach.

He served with the Coastguard at Whitstable from November 1902 to October 1907 and retired as a Commander on 9 October 1907. He briefly wrote sailing directions in the Hydrographic Office in 1908 but resigned due to ill-health. He was allowed to accept service in 1911 with the Canadian Surveying Service. From 29 July 1914 to 22 June 1917, he was Coaling Officer at Harwich but retired finally (ill health) on 14 September 1917; Captain (Retired) 11 November 1918. Captain Lyne died at Harlech, North Wales, on 15 September 1921.

Sold with further research including copied record of service.