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Picture courtesy of DNW

SAGS (1) 1879 (”Shah” W. W. Knowler. Chf. P.O. HMS) naming separated by suspension post;
Egypt , dated reverse, (0) (W. H. Knowler. Chf. Gunrs. Mte. HMS”Euphrates”);
Royal Navy LS&GC, VR narrow suspension (Wm. W. Knowler. Bos. Mate HMS Eclipse) impressed naming;
Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed as issued

William Woodland Knowler was born in Dover, Kent, on 16 January 1846 and was engaged for Naval service on 16 January 1864. He was awarded his Long Service Medal in January 1878, while serving in HMS Eclipse. He subsequently joined HMS Shah on 4 December 1878 as acting Chief Petty Officer, aboard which ship he remained employed until October 1879. In that period the Shah took part in the engagement with the Peruvian iron-clad turret ship Huascar on 29 May 1877. In company with the corvette HMS Amethyst, Shah engaged the rebel iron-clad for three hours but, owing to her heavy armour, the Huascar managed to escape to shallow waters at the close of day; a subsequent cutting out expedition also failed. Knowler was subsequently among those Bluejackets landed for service in the Zulu War in 1879.

Serving in HMS Euphrates during the Egyptian operations, Knowler remained with the fleet until he was shore pensioned on 27 April 1888.

Picture courtesy of DNW

SAGS (1) 1879 (”Shah” T. Broderick. Ord: HMS) naming separated by suspension post;
Royal Navy LS&GC, VR narrow suspension (T. Broderick, P.O. 1st. Cl. HMS Shannon.) impressed naming

Thomas Broderick was born in Queenstown, Cork, on 6 February 1857 and was engaged for Naval service on 29 November 1877, serving as an Ordinary Seaman in HMS Revenge. He subsequently joined HMS Shah on 17 November 1878, aboard which ship he remained employed until October 1879, gaining advancement to Able Seaman. In that period the Shah took part in the engagement with the Peruvian iron-clad turret ship Huascar on 29 May 1877. In company with the corvette HMS Amethyst, Shah engaged the rebel iron-clad for three hours but, owing to her heavy armour, the Huascar managed to escape to shallow waters at the close of day; a subsequent cutting out expedition also failed. Broderick was subsequently among those Bluejackets landed for service in the Zulu War in 1879. Awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, while serving in HMS Shannon (1898-90), Broderick was appointed acting Boatswain on 12 December 1890, Chief Boatswain on 21 March 1911 and Lieutenant (Retired) on 1916, having been pensioned on 21 March 1912.

Picture courtesy of DNW

SAGS (1) 1879 (G. F. Lonnon. A.B. H.M.S. “Shah”);
Egypt (1) Alexandria 11th July (G. F. Lonnon. A.B. H.M.S. “Invinvible”);
East and West Africa 1887 (1) Benin 1897 (G. D. Lonnon, Sh. Corpl., H.M.S. Forte.) note second initial but as per roll;
1914-15 Star (88649, G. F. Lonnon, Sh. Cpl. 1. R.N.);
British War and Victory Medals (88649 G. F. Lonnon. Sh. Cpl. 1. R.N.);
Royal Navy LS&GC VR, narrow suspension, impressed naming (G. F. Lonnon, Sh. Corpl. 1st Cl., H.M.S. Penelope);
Khedive’s Star 1882

George F. Lonnon was born at Portsea, Hampshire, on 9 November 1859, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 27 November 1874. He served aboard Shah from September 1876 to October 1879, and was present aboard her in the action, with H.M.S. Amethyst, fought with the Peruvian rebel turret ship Huascar on 29 May 1877, and in South Africa in 1879. He served aboard Invincible from March 1882 to December 1885, including the bombardment of Alexandria on 11 July 1882. After further service in Asia, Hercules, Penelope, in which ship he received his L.S. & G.C. medal, and Victory I, he served aboard Forte from November 1895 to October 1897, including the operations against Benin City in 1897. He had been advanced to Ordinary Seaman in 1877, Able Seaman in 1878, Ship’s Corporal 2nd Class in 1886, and Ship’s Corporal 1st Class in 1888. Pensioned to Shore in 1897, he then served briefly in 1913 in Good Hope from 14 July to 10 August. He was recalled for service during the Great War, stationed at Victory I and aboard Hermione, and was invalided to Haslar Hospital on 3 March 1915.

Picture courtesy of DNW

SAGS (1) 1879 (”Shah” T. S. Eager. A.B. H.M.S.)

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

Ashantee 1873 (1) Witu 1890 (Lt. A. M. Gardiner. R.N. H.M.S. Himalaya. 73-74.);
SAGS (0) (”Shah” Lieut. A. Gardiner. R.N. H.M.S.);
Egypt, dated reverse (1) Suakin 1885 (Lieut: A. M. Gardiner. RN. H.M.S. “Agincourt”);
Khedive’s Star, dated 1882

Noonan's say only 10 known Ashantee War medals to officers entitled to later East & West Africa Medal Clasps,

Alexander Milne Gardiner was born on the 14 November 1848. He entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet aboard the Training Ship Britannia on 11 March 1862. On passing out of Britannia he was awarded a 1st Class Certificate and gained 12 months sea time. On promotion to Midshipman on 20 June 1863, he was appointed to Phoebe and loaned for short periods of training to the following ships: Victory, August 1863; Orontes, Trident, Queen, and Marlborough, September 1863, and Trident, October 1863. He returned to Phoebe in October 1863 and remained in this vessel for nearly three years. He served next aboard Lord Clyde, June 1866 and during his service in this vessel he served short periods of instruction aboard Royal Adelaide, July 1866, and Victory, August 1866, returning to the Lord Clyde in June 1867. Whilst in the latter vessel he was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 18 December 1867, having obtained a 1st Class Certificate in Seamanship and 3rd Class Certificates in Gunnery and Navigation.

He was next appointed to Northumberland in August 1868, and Narcissus, May 1870; in the latter ship he was promoted to Lieutenant on 7 February 1872. He then joined Cambridge in May 1873 for a Short Gunnery Course and in June 1873 he was then lent to Indus for the visit of the Shah of Persia.

In September 1873 he joined the troopship Himalaya and in this vessel he took part in the Ashantee War 1873-74, receiving the medal without clasp. Next appointed to the Liffey in April 1878 and then Shah in November 1878; in the latter vessel he saw service in the Zulu War and was awarded the medal without clasp.

On returning to England in November 1879 he was appointed to the Duke of Wellington for service as Transport Officer afloat aboard the SS Ontario. He next served in Agincourt, August 1880, and was present in this vessel in Egyptian waters during 1882 and received the Egyptian War medal without clasp. He was highly Commended by Rear Admiral A. Wilson 'For the manner in which he commanded Agincourt for two months when the Commanding Officer was away sick, he had entire charge of the ship during a short evolutionary cruise'.

On leaving Agincourt he took command of the gunboat Cygnet in May 1884 and saw service at Suakin in the Red Sea. He was specially promoted to Commander on 17 August 1885, and mentioned in Commodore R. H. Molyneux's Despatch published in the London Gazette of 23 June 1885. 'The Cygnet was moored during the busiest time at the entrance of the harbour to enforce obedience to the port regulations framed for the occasion to prevent confusion or accident, a duty which was performed by Lieutenant Alexander M. Gardiner, commanding that ship with much tact and judgement'. His services were recognised by the award of the clasp 'Suakin 1885' which he added to his previously earned no clasp, dated medal.

On his return to England in October 1885 he joined Duke of Wellington, followed by Cyclops in July 1889, and was then appointed to the command of Kingfisher. Whilst in the latter vessel attached to the East Indies Squadron, he was landed in October 1890 as part of the Naval Brigade sent to punish the Sultan of Witu who had earlier murdered a party of Europeans. He was mentioned in Vice Admiral Fremantle's Despatch, London Gazette 6 January 1891: 'In Command of an Infantry Brigade, he showed himself able and efficient'. Being already in possession of the Ashantee Medal he received only the clasp 'Witu 1890', one of only ten officers to receive additional clasps to the Ashantee Medal.

His next appointment was to the command of the gunboat Mistletoe, January 1892, and to the Raven in July 1894. On 8 January 1896, he retired at his own request with the rank of Captain having served for 34 years.

He died 21 June 1927, aged 78, his Obituary appearing in The Times, 25 June 1927.