TOPIC:

Hi Mike,

Apologies for my poor photography. The larger silver boxes are the tobacco tins presented by Lloyds to the Powerfuls at the dinner on May 7th. They were unnamed athough some were later engaved by the recipients. They were engraved with the Lloyds crest and the date.

Paul

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (1) DoL (187094 A-B: F. E. Buxton, H.M.S. Powerful) large impressed letters;
BWM & VM (273 Ch-Mech. F. E. Buxton A.F.C. A.I.F.)

Frank Edgar Buxton was born in Paddington, London, on 4 July 1879, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 3 January 1896, an ironmonger’s assistant by trade. He served aboard H.M.S. Powerful from 8 June 1897 to 8 June 1900, serving in South Africa at the defence of Ladysmith (Medal with clasp). Thereafter he appears to have had rather a chequered career in the Navy, having ‘Run’ from Pembroke I on 8 August 1900 and sentenced to 21 days imprisonment. He was confined to cells on four further occasions before being discharged on expiration of his Continuous Service Engagement on 9 July 1909.

Having emigrated to Australia he enlisted into the A.I.F. at Melbourne on 22 November 1915, joining “C” Flight, No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps, and embarked for service abroad on 16 March 1916. Whilst in Cairo he was admitted to hospital where he underwent amputation of a finger of his right hand, after which he was transferred to England on 7 July 1916. In August 1916 he was taken on the strength of the A.I.F. War Chest Club and in April 1917 he transferred to the A.F.C. Depot at Perham Downs. In June 1917 he was attached to 30th Training Squadron, and in January 1918 to 1st Wing A.R.S. He embarked in March 1919 for return to Australia per Kildonian Castle, arriving at Melbourne on 7 May, where he was discharged ‘medically unfit’ on 21 June 1919.

Picture courtesy of DNW

E& W Africa (1) Benin 1897 (E. C. Palmer, Pte., H.M.S. St. George.);
QSA (0) (E. C. Palmer, Pte. R.M.L.I. H.M.S. Powerful.)

Ernest Charles Palmer was born in Wilsford, near Salisbury, Wiltshire on 27 April 1871, and joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Salisbury on 27 May 1890. Posted to the Portsmouth Division, he served in H.M. Ships Warspite, Liffey, and Royal Arthur between April 1892 and September 1896. He next embarked in H.M.S. St. George on 24 January 1897, and took part in the Benin campaign of that year, being wounded in action outside Benin City on 18 February 1897:

‘At daybreak on the 18th the Column started off to attack the city which was now close at hand Though fired at continually from the bush there were but few casualties and no serious opposition was encountered until a wide open road leading directly to the city was reached. The bush on either side was very thick, and all along the road the enemy had collected in great numbers. Several guns opened fire on the British loaded with all manner of scrap iron but were fired at too high an elevation to occasion much damage. The fire at this point was very hot and two gunners of the Royal Marine Artillery were killed, and Captain Byrne, Privates Varndell and Samuels, Royal Marine Light Infantry, fell dangerously wounded. Privates Hooper and Palmer, though badly hurt, after being bound with a field dressing continued to advance with the firing line.’

Palmer transferred to the Hospital Ship S.S. Malacca, whilst still borne on St. George’s books, on 3 March 1897, and arrived back in Portsmouth on 19 March. He next embarked in H.M.S. Powerful on 8 June 1897, and served in her from the outset of the Boer War in South Africa. Returning to Portsmouth on 9 June 1900, he was discharged on 29 May 1902 after 12 years and 3 days’ service.

When I read through this and similar threads, I actually do regret not being a "Naval type" I have left it a little late in the day to start sadly.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (7) Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Driefontein (5738 T. Holt, R.M, H.M.S. Powerful) last clasp loose on ribbon

One of 16 7-clasp Medals issued to H.M.S. Powerful’s crew, all Royal Marines. Two further Privates received medals with 8 clasps.

Thomas Holt was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, on 5 January 1873, and enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry in Liverpool in September 1891. Having joined H.M.S. Powerful in September 1899, he was landed with the Naval Brigade in South Africa and was taken prisoner at at Roodeval on 7 June 1900. Holt was discharged ashore ‘time expired’ in October 1913 but did not qualify for the L.S. & G.C. medal having been charged with desertion in 1894

Last seen 4 years ago.


Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (1) Defence of Ladysmith (175914 Sto: W. James, H.M.S. Powerful) impressed naming;
RN LS&GC Ed VII (175914 William James, Ch. Stoker, H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh.)

William James was born in Shorwell, Isle of Wight, in October 1873 and joined the Royal Navy as Stoker Second Class in September 1893. He was promoted Stoke, serving in H.M.S. Royal Sovereign, in October 1894, before transferring to H.M.S. Powerful in June 1897. He served during the Boer War as part of Powerful’s Naval Brigade that took part in the Defence of Ladysmith, before transferring to H.M.S. Duke of Wellington in June 1900. He was advanced Stoker Petty Officer in July 1906, and transferred in that rate to H.M.S. Duke of Edinburgh in April 1908. He was promoted Chief Stoker the following month, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in September 1908.