China 1900, no clasp (E. Townsend, Lg. Sto. 2Cl., H.M.S. Orlando) good very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Edward Townsend was born on 24 September 1872 in North Petherton, Somerset, And was a fitter prior to joining the service as a Stoker 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. VIVID II on 21 October 1891 when aged 19 years. He next served aboard AGAMEMNON (May 1892) and CAMPERDOWN (September 1892) being advanced to Stoker on 27 October 1892. He was aboard CAMPERDOWN when she was in collision with VICTORIA during Fleet manoeuvres on 22 June 1893, in which Admiral Tryon, 22 Officers and 336 Men lost their lives. He subsequently joined GRAFTON (October 1895), VICTORY II (October 1895), BOSCAWEN for MINOTAUR (January 1896), and ORLANDO (February 1899) serving in this ship in Chinese waters between June and December 1900. He was advanced to Leading Stoker 2nd Class on 15 August 1901, and served in this rank aboard DUKE OF WELLINGTON (July 1902) and AGINCOURT (November 1902).

He was discharged to shore ‘time expired’ on 22 October 1903, having completed his 12 year engagement but bad character assessments and a period of 42 days imprisonment whilst serving aboard CAMPERDOWN in September 1892, spoiled his chances of receiving the L.S. & G.C. medal. He joined the R.F.R. at Portsmouth on 30 January 1909 and mobilised on 2 August 1914, serving aboard VICTORY II, EGMONT (November 1915), HANNIBAL (February 1917), CAESAR (November 1918) and VICTORY II (March 1919) and demobilised to Shore on 7 July 1919. He was mentioned in Despatches London Gazette 20 February 1919, and awarded the Serbian Gold Medal for Military Valour London Gazette 24 May 1919.