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An fascinating item from the next Noble sale:


Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics

QSA (4) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 (Lieut: A.F.Stephens, N.S.W, Naval Fce:) Engraved

Described as:

One of only two NSW Naval recipients of a Queen's South Africa Medal.

Together with miniature QSA with the first three clasps; rare Submarine Miners Assn lapel badge in gilt and enamel (The NSW Submarine Mining Corps was established in the late 1870s from personnel from the Engineering Corps and the Torpedo and Signalling Corps of the Naval Brigade to maintain an electrically triggered minefield within Sydney Harbour.); N.S.W. Rifle Association, 1788-1873 medal in silver (30mm) (C.1873/6), with swing top pin-back suspender (pin missing); National Rifle Association of N.S.W. medal with damaged ribbon with N.R.A. of N.S.W. clasp and pin-back suspender inscribed, 'Executive Committee', the reverse of the medal inscribed, 'SubLieut.A.F.Stephens/1897'; book titled 'Torpedo Manual for Her Majesty's Fleet' Volume 1, hardcover (this damaged) 334pp (most pages with foxing); a large selection of letters written by Stephens to his brother, a Captain in the R.N. Australian Squadron based in Sydney, detailing his Boer War experience, from getting a lift with the Qld Contingent, to presenting himself to the South African Governor for service, his service until dysentery then invalided to England, shooting at Bisley and present at the Royal Navy review and training in Gunnery.

Albert Frank Stephens, clerk in NSW Police Department Records Office, born Oct1864 at Bristol, UK; Enl.1885 in the Naval Artillery Volunteers and served as Petty Officer on Torpedo Boats for 6 years; qualified Signals Gun Drill and described as a 'crack shot'; Sub-Lt in NSW Naval Force Naval Brigade 03Aug1892 and Officer commanding B Coy NSW Naval Brigade; volunteered for service in South Africa and embarked with 4th Qld Imperial Bushmen Contingent as Special Service Officer per Transport 'Manchester Port' 18May1900; arrived Beira and then to Simonstown for duty with HMS Monarch and then HMS Doris; noted at Pretoria with Naval Brigade; invalided to UK about Mar1901 and later Gunnery Training at HMS Excellent at Portsmouth followed by Naval Manoeuvres at sea; Disemb.01Nov1901 at Sydney per Transport 'Oceana'; Lieut with Naval Militia Mar1907; Died of a heart attack in his Sydney office 20Jan1908 and buried at Waverley Cemetery, Sydney, NSW; awarded QSA for service on HMS Monarch as Lieut note on Medal Roll states 'Medal returned to Royal Mint June 1927'.

Albert Frank Stephens was a repeated winner in Naval Artillery Volunteers Rifle Club competitions c1897. He is noted in various Rifle Shooting Groups and a Member of NSW National Rifle Association for 10 years. He participated in the Intercolonial Shooting Matches in Melbourne and represented in State Rifle Shooting competitions several times.

With research by Mostly Unsung and a large amount of other research.

His 1901 clasp is listed on a Special Service roll from NSW, dated 1905 (WO100/289p234)



Monarch's roll (Adm 171/53p379)