Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part 2)

The rare Visit to Ireland pair awarded to Able Seaman H. Skinner, H.M. Coast Guard, late Royal Navy

Visit to Ireland 1903 (H. Skinner, Commd. Boatman) officially engraved naming, complete with shamrock brooch-bar; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (H. Skinner, Boatn., H.M. Coast Guard), impressed naming, the first polished, about very fine, the second rather better (2) £600-£800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Collection

Dix Noonan Webb, December 2004.

Only 19 Visit to Ireland 1903 medals awarded to the R.N. and H.M. Coast Guard.

Hubert Skinner was born at Lytchet, Dorset in June 1861 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in January 1877. Having witnessed no active service, he transferred to H.M. Coast Guard in June 1893, was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in October 1897 and was a Commissioned Boatman based at Killary Bay at the time of the royal visit to Ireland in 1903. Skinner was pensioned in May 1910 but was recalled in August 1914 in the rate of Able Seaman, and served in one capacity or another at the R.N. College Osborne until, tragically, in April 1917, he ‘hanged himself during a fit of temporary insanity’ while on leave.