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HMS Magpie served between November 1900 and May 1902. She was commanded by Lieutenant J K Laird.


Picture courtesy of

E&W Africa 1887 (1) 1891-2 (F. S. Gidley P.O. 1st Cl., HMS Widgeon.);
QSA (1) Cape Colony (F. S. Gidley, Gnr., R.N., HMS Magpie) last two letter of surname officially corrected
[Trio]
[Russian Medal of St Anne]

Frederick Samuel Gidley was born in Torquay, Devon, on 26 November 1867, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 25 August 1883. Advancing steadily through the rates he became Petty Officer 1st Class in January 1891 whilst serving aboard HMS Widgeon, and was promoted to Acting Gunner on 13 May 1897. He was Gunner aboard HMS Magpie during operations at the Cape of Good Hope and on the West Coast of Africa, 1899-1903. He was promoted to Chief Gunner on 13 May 1912, having joined the battleship Collingwood two months earlier, in which ship he remained until May 1918, including the battle of Jutland. He was awarded the Russian Medal of St Anne for distinguished services in the Battle of Jutland (LG 1 October 1917). Promoted to Lieutenant R.N. on 13 September 1918, he retired in the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 13 September 1926.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (0) (J. Hunter, E.R.A., 4Cl., H.M.S. Magpie.) large impressed naming

89 Queen’s South Africa Medals were awarded to the ship’s company of HMS Magpie, 75 of them without clasp.

Picture courtesy of Spink

QSA (o) (W. G. M. Richards, A.B., H.M.S Magpie)

Ex-Anglo-Boer War Anniversary 1899-1999 Auction, Spink.

William Gilbert Matthews Richards was born in Brixham on 19 March 1880 and was a mason's labourer upon his joining the Royal Navy in August 1896. Having served off South Africa aboard the Magpie, he transferred to the Regulating Branch as Ship's Corporal 1st Class in May 1907. Richards died of tuberculosis at the Royal Naval Hospital at Plymouth on 3 August 1911.