Pair: Admiral C. H. Adair, Royal Navy, who accompanied and instructed the young Princes Albert and George on the cruise of H.M.S. Bacchante, and was later A.D.C. to their father King Edward VII

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (Lieut. C. H. Adair. R.N. H.M.S. “Helicon.”); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, with a fine cabinet photograph of recipient in uniform, signed by him and dated ‘1913’, mounted for wear, light contact marks, generally very fine (2) £400-£500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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Collection

Approximately 29 Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, no clasp medals issued to H.M.S. Helicon.

Charles Henry Adair was born in July 1851, and was the son of Colonel C. W. Adair, C.B., Royal Marines. He joined the Royal Navy in October 1864, and the Liverpool Daily Post, 21 September 1869, gives the following:

‘Lieutenant Adair and his brother William were charged with “wanton outrages” in that they had smashed a number of garden vases and ornaments whilst also injuring a number of flowers and shrubs in Maidstone Road, Rochester. Charles was further charged with wilfully breaking a street lamp in Rochester High Street wit his walking stick, and assaulting a police constable in the execution of his duty. They appeared before the Mayor and Magistrates at the Guidhall, Rochester. Both men pleaded guilty to the charges and their father Colonel C. W. Adair, C.B., Royal Marines, spoke on their behalf as did others. The Mayor agreed that they should be fined, consequently a total of £7-17s was paid by the brothers who produced a a number of banknotes.’

The above seems not to have unduly affected the young Adair’s career, as he was promoted Lieutenant in June 1874. His service record gives ‘Commanded 1st Co. “Actives” men destroying piratical villages in Congo River, 18 September 1875’. Adair elected to specialise in gunnery, and served with H.M.S. Bacchante, July 1879 - August 1882. Whilst with the latter, he found himself in contact with the Royal Family. The two oldest sons of the Prince of Wales had entered the navy in 1877, and by 1879 it had been decided by the Royal Family and the Government that the two should undertake a cruise. They were assigned to Bacchante, which was then part of a squadron intended to patrol the sea lanes of the British Empire. The Princes, with their tutor John Neale Dalton, duly came aboard on 17 September 1879. The Bacchante was to be their home for the next three years, and the future Duke of Clarence and King George V were instructed by Adair:

‘The First Lieutenant the Honourable A. G. Curzon-Hawe taught the princes seamanship, the Gunnery Lieutenant C. H. Adair, instructed them in that skill.’ (Royal Education Past, Present and Future by P. Gordon and D. Lawton refers)

The Reverend Dalton later donated photographs of the trip to the Royal Collection, and Adair features amongst them. Adair advanced to Commander in January 1886, and to Captain in June 1893. He was appointed to H.M.S. Royal Sovereign in January 1900, and the Christchurch Times, 16 November 1901, reported:

‘Gun Accident On Board the Royal Sovereign.

A big gun burst on board the Royal Sovereign while she was manoeuvring. One officer and six artillerymen were killed and the captain of the ship and thirteen sailors were seriously injured. Captain Charles Henry Adair, who, is reported to have been seriously injured by the explosion was appointed to the ship on January 30th 1900.’

Adair, having recuperated from his injuries, was appointed A.D.C. to H.M. The King in January 1904. He advanced to Rear Admiral in April 1905, and was appointed to the command of the Second Cruiser Squadron the following year. Adair was promoted Admiral in May 1913, and retired at his own request later that month. Admiral Adair died in March 1920.

Sold with copied research, including a group photographic image of the crew of H.M.S. Bacchante from the Royal Collection.