TOPIC:

Frank,

Given HMS Terrible's role in the Boer War, I would be more tempted by a group with the double relief combination or certainly a clasp on his QSA. That said, there is a lot of military service in these five medals that was certainly hard earned.

To be quite honest, I think I'd just be quite happy with a humble pair to a boy or a stoker, he need not have stepped ashore, it is simply the ships name and what it was doing that attracts me.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (A. Crispin, Sto. HMS Terrible.) small officially re-impressed naming;
China 1900, (0) (A. Crispin, Sto. HMS Terrible.) large officially re-impressed naming, both medals officially re-impressed

Approximately 538 (0) Queen’s South Africa Medals awarded to HMS Terrible.

Approximately 706 (0) China Medals awarded to HMS Terrible.

George Martin, alias Arthur Crispin, was born in Derby on 15 March 1874 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class under an alias on 26 August 1898. He joined HMS Terrible on 23 June 1899, was promoted Stoker on 29 October 1899, and served in her during the Boer War and the Third China War. Advanced Stoker 1st Class, he was discharged, service no longer required, owing to generally poor record, on 18 December 1906, his period of service having regularly been interrupted with periods in the cells.

Picture courtesy of Wellington Auctions

QSA (2) Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith; (176076 A-B: E.D. CURTIS, H.M.S. TERRIBLE);
China 1900 (0) (E.D. CURTIS. A.B., H.M.S. TERRIBLE.)

Edgar Douglas Curtis was born on 19th September 1878 in Alderbury, Wiltshire, and having worked as a boy at sea, then joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class (Portsmouth later Chatham No.176076) with Boscawen from 27th September 1893, being rated as a Boy 1st Class on 16th August 1894. Rated as an Ordinary Seaman whilst aboard Australia on 19th September 1896, he training in gunnery, and was then rated as an Able Seaman whilst aboard Voyage on 8th April 1897. Posted to the cruiser Terrible from 24th March 1898, he was with her when she was posted out to the China station, however with the Boer War in South Africa having just started, Terrible was diverted there on her way out to China, and as such Curtis saw service ashore with the Naval Brigade commanded by Captain E.P. Jones, R.N. Curtis was present with the naval guns from Terrible involved in the relief of Ladysmith operations from 15th December 1899, being present in the battle of the Tugela Heights from 14th to 27th February 1900, and at the relief of Ladysmith on 28th February 1900. Having re-embarked aboard Terrible, the ship proceeded to China and operated on and off the coast of China during the Boxer Rebellion, however this time Curtis did not serve ashore. Curtis was posted off Terrible in October 1902. Rated as a Leading Seaman whilst aboard Bedford on 5th April 1905, he was however disrated to Able Seaman on 8th June 1906, and then deserted his ship, namely Pembroke, the shore base at Chatham on 30th June 1906, and did not rejoin till 5th September 1906 after being apprehended by the Metropolitan Police, being then sentenced to 42 days hard labour. Curtis was discharged on 18th September 1908.

Confirmed as his full entitlement.

£795.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (1) Natal (286005 Sto: F. Cooper, HMS Terrible.);
China 1900, (1) Relief of Pekin (F. Cooper, Sto., HMS Terrible.)

Frank Cooper was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, on 7 May 1876 and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 18 September 1897. He entered HMS Terrible on 11 November 1898, and served in her until 28 October 1902, being promoted Stoker on 1 April 1899. He went on to witness active service with HMS Terrible in the Boer War and Boxer Rebellion, being landed in Natal and in China for the Relief of Pekin operations. He was advanced Stoker First Class on 1 July 1906, and was shore invalided on 5 August 1909.

The pair to Stoker Cooper sold for a hammer price of £1,300. Totals (inc VAT for UK only): £1,674. R33,000. Au$3,030. Can$2,800. US$2,240