Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Able Seaman A. Harvey, Royal Navy

China 1900, no clasp (A. Harvey, A.B., H.M.S. Terrible); Blue Jacket Heavy Gun Prize Firing Medal, obverse: bust of Admiral Lord Nelson, reverse, a heavy gun being loaded, ‘British Fleet Prize Firing Blue Jacket Medal Heavy Gun’ (A. Harvey A.B. H.M.S. “Terrible” Prize Crew 1900) 48mm., bronze, ring suspension, complete with brooch bar, ‘H.M.S. Terrible Year 1900’ and bar, ‘Prize Crew’, first with some contact marks, very fine; second extremely fine, scarce (2) £350-400

Alfred Harvey was born in Poole, Dorset on 17 January 1880. A Labourer by occupation, he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on Northampton 7 August 1897. He was advanced to Boy 1st Class in November 1897 when on Calliope and to Ordinary Seaman when on the same ship in February 1898. He served on H.M.S. Terrible, November 1898-October 1902, being promoted to Able Seaman in October 1900. For his service aboard the Terrible he was awarded the Queen’s South Africa (not with lot) and the China Medals, both without clasp. In 1900 he was a member of Terrible’s gun crew that won the newly introduced Fleet Prize Firing Competition - the gun captain of the winning crew receiving a silver medal, the other crew members receiving the medal in bronze. The winning 6” gun from H.M.S. Terrible fired six rounds and gained six hits in one minute. After Terrible Harvey served on the Duke of Wellington, Excellent and Vernon, being discharged to Haslar Hospital on 24 December 1903. As a result of his illness or accident he was discharged to a pension on 27 January 1904. With copied service paper and roll extracts.