Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Able Seaman W. J. Stanley, Royal Navy

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (W. J. Stanley. Lg. Stkr. H.M.S. “Eclipse”) repair to suspension claw, pitted from Star; Khedive’s Star, 1884-6, unnamed as issued, therefore nearly very fine or better (2) £100-£140

Provenance: Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 1997 (Egypt and Sudan Medal sold as a single).

William Stanley was born in Gravesend, Kent, in June 1851. He joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. Pembroke, in May 1877. Stanley was drafted to the Endymion (1877-79) where he was advanced to Stoker during March 1878. For the earlier Egypt campaign he served with H.M.S. Eclipse (7 January 1880 to 25 September 1883) where he received advancement to Leading Stoker in October 1881, was disrated to Stoker during December 1882 but readvanced back to Leading Stoker in June 1883.

Stanley qualified for the ‘Suakin 1885’ clasp whilst serving with H.M.S. Tyne (October 1884 to August 1885). He joined the Coast Guard Service as a Boatman on 1 January 1889, becoming a Commissioned Boatman on 16 April 1897. When pensioned ashore on 9 February 1900, Stanley was retained on the books of Pembroke I as an A.B. (Pensioner) until discharged to shore on 31 March 1903. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve in May 1901 and served until reaching the age limit in April 1905. Stanley lost one Good Conduct Badge in 1882, and as a consequence did not receive the L.S. & G.C. medal.