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Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (0) (Amadi, Seedie., H.M.S. Forte.) officially impressed naming

Pictures courtesy of Spink

Described as:

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Military Division, Knight Grand Cross (G.C.B.) Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1st type, Military Division, Knight Commander's (K.B.E.) Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Companion's (C.M.G.) Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Orange Free State, Rel. of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek, South Africa 1902; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Gambia; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. Oak Leaves; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Russia, Imperial, Order of St. Stanislas, Military Division, Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, minor enamel damage to motto on C.M.G., contact marks to QSA, generally very fine, mounted as worn with post-1937 riband for the K.B.E., and housed in a Spink, London, case (13)

GCB London Gazette 11 May 1937.

KCB London Gazette 1 January 1935.

CB London Gazette 3 June 1922.

KBE London Gazette 3 July 1926.

CBE London Gazette 1 January 1919.

CMG London Gazette 3 June 1919.

John Miles Steel was born in 1877, the son of Colonel J.P. Steel, Royal Engineers and was educated at H.M.S. Britannia as a Naval Cadet in 1892. Commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in 1897 Steel served during the Second Boer War with the Naval Brigade, and took part in the Relief of Ladysmith and subsequent operations (wounded at Elandslaagte). Latterly serving in the Gambia River Expedition (Mentioned in Despatches) he was promoted Commander in 1912 and served during the Great War in the Grand Fleet, and present at the Battle of Jutland, as Second-in-Command of Conqueror (Mentioned in Despatches London Gazette 15 September 1916 and awarded the Russian Order of St. Stanislas).

Promoted Captain in 1916 he was appointed to the Royal Naval Air Service and served as Director of Air Division, Admiralty, 1918. Transferred to the Royal Air Force, as Air Commodore, 1919, he served as Member of the Air Council and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff, Air Ministry, 1923-26. Promoted Air Vice Marshal, 1925, he served as Air Officer Commanding Wessex Bombing Area, 1926-31 and Air Officer Commanding Royal Air Force in India, 1931-35. Promoted Air Marshal, 1932, he was appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Defence of Great Britain, 1935. He was made Air Chief Marshal, 1936 and retired in 1937. Steel served during the Second World War as Air Officer Commanding Reserve Command, 1939-40, and as Controller-General of Economy, Air Ministry, 1941-45.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (1) Natal (170673 A:B: A. E. Smith. H.M.S. Forte) engraved naming;
AGS 1902 (1) Gambia (A. E. Smith. P.O. 2 Cl., H.M.S. Forte);
1914-15 Star (170673 A. E. Smith. C.P.O., R.N.);
British War and Victory Medals (170673 A. E. Smith. C.P.O., R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GCGV 1st issue (170673 A. E. Smith. C.P.O., H.M.S. Mantua)

29 ‘Gambia’ clasps awarded to HMS Forte.

Albert Edward Smith was born in Bridport, Dorset on 18 October 1877. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 12 December 1892 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in November 1893. Serving in HMS Undaunted he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in October 1895 and to Able Seaman in June 1896. Serving in HMS Galatea he held the rank of Leading Seaman, May-October 1898 before reverting once more to Able Seaman. Smith served in HMS Forte, April 1899-May 1902, being promoted to Leading Seaman in October 1900, Petty Officer 2nd Class in December 1900 and Petty Officer 1st Class in August 1901. He attained the rank of Acting Chief Petty Officer in June 1912 and was confirmed in that rank in June 1913 when serving at the R.N. School HMS Ganges. During the Great War he served on the armed merchant cruiser Mantua, August 1914-January 1916.

CPO Smith was invalided from Pembroke I on 16 February 1916, suffering from locomotor ataxia. He died on 15 April 1917, aged 38 years and is buried under a CWGC headstone at Bridport Cemetery, Dorset.

Pictures courtesy of Wallis and Wallis

Described as:

QSA 1 clasp Natal (engraved naming to 193987 Ord: A.B. Thomson, HMS Forte). VF With photocopies of service papers, Thomson, born Calcutta 1881 served aboard HMS Forte and landed with many of the ship's company at Umgeni to defend Durban with machine and field guns, single clasp Natal medals are scarce to the Navy.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (1) Natal (350428. S.B.Adt. A. W. Woodward. H.M.S. "Forte");
AGS 1902 (1) Gambia (A. W. Woodward, S.B.A., H.M.S. Forte),

29 'Gambia' clasps to HMS Forte.

Albert William Woodward was born at Greenwich, London on 1 December 1874 and enlisted with the Royal Navy on 31 August 1896. Posted first to the Royal Haslar Hospital as a Probationary Sick Berth Attendant, his first posting afloat was the training ship Caledonia on 3 November 1899, by which time he had been confirmed in his rank.

Joining the cruiser Forte on 20 April 1899 Woodward was still with her upon her entry into the Anglo-Boer War. Here she served in the Natal province of the cape with a number of her crew, including Woodward being awarded the Natal clasp as a result. Posted to the West African station by early 1901 Forte was still here on the outset of the Gambia Expedition.

This armed column led by Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. J. Brake, Royal Artillery was assembled to protect the District Commissioners on their tour of the rebellious protectorate. Notably the only clasps awarded to naval personnel were awarded to those who came under fire at Dumbutu on 11 January 1901. These numbered 29 from Forte, 49 from Thrush and 2 from Dwarf. That Woodward was to be found at Dumbutu, south of the river by some distance, suggests that he may have come ashore to help deal with casualties or invalid cases.

Regardless he clearly survived the encounter going on to be promoted Sick Berth Steward class II while still with Forte on 1 July 1901. Serving with a number of institutions over the next decade including Chatham Hospital, the cruiser Sutlej and HMS Cumberland. By this stage promoted to Sick Berth Steward class I he was serving with the battleship Formidable when, on 20 April 1913, he was discovered drunk on duty in the Sick Bay. Imprisoned for ten days and reduced in rank to Sick Berth Attendant, Woodward returned ashore on 4 May 1913 and was discharged the next day; sold together with a copied service record.

The pair to Sick Berth Attendant Woodward sold for a hammer price of GBP 550. Totals: GBP 682. R 14,740. AUD 1,220. NZD 1,300. CAD 1,110. USD 820. EUR 750