Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (“Shah” G. Grinter. A.B. H.M.S.) traces of brooch mounting and suspension re-affixed, otherwise very fine £300-£400

George Grinter was born in 1856 in Chideock, Dorset. He joined the Royal Navy as Boy 1st Class on 2 January 1874 and was advanced to Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class the same year. After service in H.M.S. Achilles, Warrior and Duke of Wellington he served with H.M.S. Shah from August 1876 to October 1879. Prior to arriving at the Cape for the Zulu campaign of 1879, H.M.S. Shah took part in the engagement with the Peruvian iron-clad turret ship Huascar on 29 May 1877. In company with the corvette H.M.S. Amethyst, Shah engaged the rebel iron-clad in a 3 hour engagement, firing the first torpedo to be used in anger, although it missed – being outrun by Huascar which managed to escape to shallow waters at the close of day. A subsequent cutting out expedition also failed.

Grinter saw further service aboard a number of ships, was advanced to Boatman in 1889, and was invalided out of the service in July 1903. A note on his service record confirms the award of his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in October 1900.