Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Commander R. A. Cathie, Royal Navy, who joined as a Boy, rose through the ranks to become Gunner, and was promoted Lieutenant for special war services in the Sudan, ‘the first Gunner to be so promoted in modern times’

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 3 clasps, El-Teb-Tamaai, Suakin 1885, Tofrek (R. A. Cathie, Gunr. R.N. H.M.S. Sphinx) impressed naming; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (R. A. Cathie, Gunner R.N. H.M.S. Sphinx) impressed naming; Jubilee 1897, silver, unnamed; Khedive’s Star 1884, all fitted with contemporary silver ribbon buckles, some edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise better than very fine (4) £1200-1400

Richard Archibald Cathie was born at Queenstown, Co. Cork, on 2 February 1852, and entered the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 10 August 1866. He re-engaged for Continouos Service in February 1880, by which time he was a Gunner’s Mate (Petty Officer 1st Class). He achieved Warrant Officer status as Gunner in August 1882 and served as Gunner of Sphinx during the operations in the eastern Sudan, where he landed with the Naval Brigade and was present at the battles of El-Teb (29th February) and Tamaai (13th March). At El-Teb he had more than one hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy, and for the gallantry he displayed both in bringing his gun into action, and for his bravery in his personal encounters with the enemy he was strongly recommended by General Buller, and was thanked in the field by Commander Rolfe. The next morning, on his returning afloat, he was specially thanked by Admiral Hewett for his bravery at El-Teb. At the battle of Tamaai he was recommended by General Graham for his bravery.

In the same ship he served with the Naval Brigade during the operations around Suakin in 1885, including the action at Tofrek (22nd March). Still serving as Gunner of Sphinx, he served with the Naval Brigade during the operations in Burma in 1885. He was lent to H.M.I.M.S. Tigris (gun vessel), and was present in that ship during the conquest of Upper Burma, including the capture of Mandalay (28th November). He also took part in operations against dacoits in November and December of that year.

Cathie was promoted to Lieutenant on 21 June 1887, for special war services in the Sudan and Red Sea Expeditions 1884-85, on the occasion of the celebration of the completion of the 50th year of Queen Victoria’s reign, the first Gunner to be so promoted in modern times. He passed in Practical Navigation at the Royal Naval College on 22 October 1887, and in March of the following year he was given command of H.M.S. Magnet, which for the next three years. After a spell ashore at the Royal Naval Barracks, he took command of H.M.S. Traveller in October 1891, in which vessel he was present at the Diamond Jubilee Review on 26 June 1897. He relinquished his command of the Traveller in April 1900 and joined the Coast Guard at Ballycastle, where he served until he retired in February 1907, with the rank of Commander. Recalled for service during the Great War, he served with the Coast Guard, Northern Irish District, from March 1915 until February 1916, his subsequent application to be given a step in rank being refused. A report by the Surgeon and Agent at Kingston in October 1916, concluded that ‘This officer will not be fit for any sort of duty again. His left arm and leg are parelic, heart dilated and blood vessels sclerotic’. Commander Cathie died at home on 20 March 1918. Sold with full record of service. See also Lot 1318 for his miniature medals.