Family group:

Three: Colour-Sergeant David Shill, Royal Marine Light Infantry
South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (D. Shill. Sergt. R.M. H.M.S. “Shah”); British War Medal (PO. 106 Cr. Sgt. D. Shill. R.M.L.I.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (D. Shill. Col. Sergt. No. 106. PO. R.M.L.I.) impressed naming

Three: Private W. D. L. Shill, Royal Marine Light Infantry
1914-15 Star (PO. 4496. Pte. W. D. L. Shill, R.M.L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (PO. 4496. Pte. W. D. L. Shill, R.M.L.I.) the first trio with very light contact marks, good very fine, otherwise extremely fine (6) £800-1000

David Shill was born at Alverstoke, Hampshire, on 23 January 1851, and enlisted on 23 January 1865 (his fourteenth birthday) at R.M. Headquarters, Gosport. He served as a Bugler until 3 August 1873 (under age until 22 January 1869) and as a Private until 31 December 1873, when he was promoted to Corporal. He was promoted to Sergeant on 11 February 1876 and to Colour-Sergeant on 25 July 1885. He served aboard H.M.S. Shah, August 1876 to October 1879, during which period H.M. Ships Shah and Amethyst fought an action with the Peruvian rebel turret ship Huascar in the Pacific on 29 May 1877. At St Helena, on the way back to England from the Pacific, the Shah was diverted to South Africa and took part in the Zulu War. His papers state that he ‘Served in Naval Brigade, Zulu War, from 7 March to 6 July 1879 inclusive’. He was awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal on 3 March 1888, and was discharged due to length of service in February 1890. He was recalled for war service in February 1915, aged 64, and served as a Recruiter in the Portsmouth Division. He was finally discharged in August 1916.

William David Lemuel Shill was born at Alverstoke, Hampshire, on 19 April 1875, and enlisted into the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a Greenwich School Boy on 12 June 1889. By March 1900 he had attained the rank of Sergeant but was then reduced to Corporal in January 1910, and to Private in December of the same year. He remained a Private until discharged due to length of service on 18 April 1914. He enrolled into the Royal Fleet Reserve on the following day but the only other information available on his papers shows that he was awarded Chevrons for 1914, 1915 and 1916, and paid War Gratuity in March 1919. Sold with copied record of service for both men.