The group to Major J Stacpole who was the embarkation office at Southampton and oversaw the embarkation of 300,000 men and 32,000 horses without any casualties.
Picture courtesy of Noble Numismatics
CVO n/b;
CMG b/b;
Egypt (1) Suakin 1885 (Capt: & D.A.C.G. J. Stacpole. C & T. Staff.);
Khedive's Star;
1902 Coronation Medal
Together with a matching set of display court mounted miniatures.
CVO: Supplement to LG 19/3/1901, p2019 - to Colonel J. Stacpole.
CMG: Supplement to LG 26/6/1902, p4195 - to Colonel John Stacpole, C.V.O., in recognition of services in this country, the Mediterranean, and the Channel Islands during the operations in South Africa.
John Stacpole was born 27 December 1847 at Hollymount, County Mayo, Ireland. He enlisted on 23 November 1865 in the 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers) as a private. He served in India for several years and after arriving home was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in the 75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot on 21 January 1874 and then commissioned as a full lieutenant on 11 May 1875. He served in various postings and then on 10 April 1882 he was seconded as a Deputy Assistant Commissary General (DACG) and promoted to captain on 26 March 1884. He served at this rank at the port of Suakin at the time of the Soudan expedition. On 11 December 1888 he was attached to the Army Service Corps and was appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant General (DAAG) in the North-East District on 1 July 1889.
On 11 May 1891 he was promoted to major with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. On 2 April 1892 he became DAAG in the Home District until 30 June 1894 and then on 15 September 1895 he was appointed DAAG in the Southern District based at Portsmouth. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel with the Army Service Corps on 13 November 1895 and in this role was the embarkation officer at Southampton Docks. He was promoted to brevet colonel on 28 March 1900 and as a colonel on the staff on 9 August of the same year.
He was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on 19 March 1901 with a private presentation ceremony held on board the Royal Yacht, Victoria & Albert, at Portsmouth where King Edward VII thanked him for the 'zeal and fidelity he had displayed in the exercise of his arduous and responsible duties as Embarkation Officer.' Then on 26 June 1902 he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.
He retired shortly before his 57th birthday on 23 November 1904 and was then appointed a Justice of the Peace. In April 1905 he came out of retirement and was appointed District Barrack Master, Eastern Command until he retired again on 30 November 1907.
During the Great War John Stacpole was appointed Commandant of the rest camp at Highfield near Southampton Common. Towards the end of 1916 he was taken ill with appendicitis and died at the Red Cross Hospital on 30 December at the age of 69. His funeral was conducted with 'imposing military ceremony.'