TOPIC:

Queen's South Africa Medal – J. Egan, A.B., H.M.S. Blanche
1915 Star Trio – 174142 J. Egan, P.O. R.N.
R.F.R., L.S.G.C. - 174142 DEV.A.4793 J. Egan, R.F.R.

James Egan was born on July 29th, 1877 at Midleton, County Cork, Ireland

He joined the Royal Navy on July 29th, 1893 on his 16th birthday as a Boy Seaman. He was then 5 Foot 4 Inches in height, had Brown Hair, and Blue Eyes. He gave his previous occupation as Letter Carrier. He began his naval career as a Boy 2nd Class in H.M.S. Impregnable (at Davenport), a training ship for boys, moving to H.M.S. Lion, another training ship on August 5th, 1893, where he was made Boy 1st Class on June 28th, 1894. He moved to H.M.S. Melampus (reserve drill ship at Kingston), a Second Class Cruiser, on November 14th, 1894.

He left H.M.S. Melampus on July 7th, 1895 and, after a few weeks in H.M.S. Vivid he joined another Second Class Cruiser, H.M.S. Pique, on April 23rd, 1895. While there, on his 18th birthday he volunteered for 12 years Continuous Service and was rated Ordinary Seaman on the same day. On January 14th, 1897 he was promoted to Able Seaman with the sub-rating of T.M. (Trained-Man). He was awarded his first Good Conduct Badge on July 29th, 1898.

He was sent ashore from H.M.S. Pique to H.M.S. Vivid 1 (Barracks Ship at Davenport) on August 10th, 1898 and on October 1st, 1898 he was moved to H.M.S. Cambridge (at Plymouth), a special Gunnery Ship where he was sub-rated Seaman Gunner 2nd Class on December 16th, 1898. He was back to Vivid 1 again from January 28th, 1899 until March 31st, 1899, then to sea again in H.M.S. Black Prince (at Kingston), a Gunnery Training Ship from April 1st, 1899 to November 12th, 1900.

After a week ashore, again in Vivid 1, he joined H.M.S. Blanche on November 20th, 1900. He stayed in her for the next 3 1/2 years, during which time she saw active service on the coast of South Africa from January 31st 1901 to July 19th, 1901, and then again December 1st, 1901 to May 31st, 1902 during the Anglo-Boer War. Of her crew, 173 received the Queen's South Africa Medal without bar as they were not involved in any actions on land while 17 others qualified for the bar Cape Colony and South Africa 1901. While in Blanche he earned his second Good Conduct Badge on July 28th, 1903 but he lost it on February 22nd, 1904.

He was back in Vivid 1 on May 19th, 1904 where he was able to regain his Good Conduct Badge on August 22nd, 1904 returned to H.M.S. Cambridge for a spell from September 18th, 1904 to January 1st, 1905 then being rated Seaman Gunner on January 17th 1904.

He had further spells afloat, mostly in Cruisers, during the next 8 years, being rated Leading Seaman on May 27th, 1906. On July 29th, 1907 he volunteered to extend his service to complete the 22 years necessary for a Pension and he earned his third Good Conduct Badge on July 26th, 1908.

On December 12th, 1910 he passed the educational requirements for Petty Officer and was granted his Educational Certificate, he passed the Petty Officer's proficiency test March 31st 1911 and was rated Petty Officer (Naval Gunner) on September 1st, 1912.

On April 1st, 1913 he joined H.M.S. Bellerophon, a Battleship of 18,600 tons, armed with 10 – 12” and 16 – 4” guns. He remained in her throughout World War One until he was finally demobilised on February 26th, 1919. During his time on H.M.S. Bellerphon he changed from Royal Navy to Royal Fleet Reserve on July 24th, 1917, where he was given the additional Official Number of Dev.A.4893.

His pension was granted on February 15th, 1918 and his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on March 22nd, 1920.

The Long Service and Good Conduct medal he received was the Royal Fleet Reserve type. He served in the Royal Navy (after his 18th birthday) from July 27th, 1895 to July 24th, 1917, a period of almost 22 years before transferring to the Royal Fleet Reserve. At first sight this would appear to have qualified him for the Royal Navy, Long Service and Good Conduct on July 27th, 1910 (15 years service after the age of 18). However, his Character rating on December 31st, 1904, just after he lost his Good Conduct Badge, was only rated as “Good”. This would appear to have wrecked his chance for the medal, which demanded a continuous rating of “Very Good” at least, see “The Naval Long Service Medals,” (page 95) by Douglas – Morris. Beginning again on January 1st, 1905 he had a further 15 years service by January 1st 1920, during which time his Character Rating was always Very Good or Superior, but by that date he had transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve so he received the R.F.R. Long Service and Good Conduct.

Very nice indeed Mike, medals like those are usually a very safe bet, ADM188 is just so detailed, Blanche was a very famous name in the Royal Navy, in fact, the last Jack Tar I bought also served on Blanche, although, that was in 1917, so that would have been the next cruiser to subsequently bare the famous name.

Excellent write up Mike. And presented in a very nice format. Your research has even given me a few bits to add to my TIMOTHY MULLANE, HMS DORIS story.
And the Group itself is really nice.
James

Thank You Frank and James......

I am now down to 2 Naval for the set.......

Mike

Only two, dare I ask which ships, Mike?

Frank Kelley wrote: Only two, dare I ask which ships, Mike?

Good Morning Frank.....

The two that I am looking for are H.M.S. BEAGLE and H.M.S. WIDGEON.....

Mike