The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Three: Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, El-Teb (J. C. Tickell, Captn. Qr. Dk. Men, H.M.S. Briton); China 1900, 2 clasps, Taku Forts, Relief of Pekin (J. C. Tickell, Ch. P.O., H.M.S. Centurion); Khedive’s Star 1884, the Egypt pair with pitting, therefore nearly very fine, otherwise nearly extremely fine and scarce (3)

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

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Only 6 clasps for El-Teb to H.M.S. BRITON.

James Tickell was born on 31 July 1857 in the village of Agtherton, County Kerry, Ireland, and joined the service on 31 July 1873 as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. IMPREGNABLE. Advanced to Boy 1st Class on 13 May 1874 he served in this rate aboard CAMBRIDGE (July 1874), IMPREGNABLE (October 1874), and AUDACIOUS (October 1874). Whilst in AUDACIOUS he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 31 July 1875 and to Able Seaman on 1 June 1878 and subsequently served aboard CAMBRIDGE (February 1879), VERNON (May 1880), CAMBRIDGE (July 1880), and BRITON (March 1881). He landed as part of BRITON's Naval Brigade and fought at the battle of El-Teb in February 1884, and was advanced to Leading Seaman on 18 March 1884 and to Petty Officer 1st Class on 28 March 1884. He returned to the Cambridge Gunnery Training establishment in May 1884 and transferred to HERCULES in December 1884. He served again aboard CAMBRIDGE in May 1885, then joined DEFIANCE (May 1885), VERNON (September 1885), DEFIANCE (October 1886), DUNCAN (June 1887), DEFIANCE (August 1887), CLEOPATRA (November 1888), DEFIANCE (July 1892), CAMBRIDGE (October 1892), DEFIANCE (January 1893), SWIFTSURE (November 1893), DEVASTATION (December 1893), DUKE OF WELLINGTON (December 1893), CAMBRIDGE (May 1896), DEFIANCE (June 1896), VERNON (June 1896) and CENTURION (February 1897). In the latter ship he was landed in China as part of the Naval Brigade. He next served aboard VIVID I (September 1900) and was pensioned ashore on 20 January 1901. He joined the R.F.R. at Devonport on 13 May 1901 and served until 31 July 1907 when he was discharged having reached 50 years of age. He was never awarded the L.S. & G.C. medal, character ratings of ‘good’ in 1886 and 1887 debarring him from any consideration.