Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Chief Gunner’s Mate W. W. Knowler, Royal Navy

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (”Shah” W. W. Knowler. Chf. P.O. H.M.S.) naming separated by suspension post; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (W. H. Knowler. Chf. Gunrs. Mte. H.M.S.”Euphrates”); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Wm. W. Knowler. Bos. Mate H.M.S. Eclipse) impressed naming; Khedive’s Star 1882, unnamed as issued, light contact marks, generally very fine (4) £700-£900

William Woodland Knowler was born in Dover, Kent, on 16 January 1846 and was engaged for Naval service on 16 January 1864. He was awarded his Long Service Medal in January 1878, while serving in H.M.S. Eclipse. He subsequently joined H.M.S. Shah on 4 December 1878 as acting Chief Petty Officer, aboard which ship he remained employed until October 1879. In that period the 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 for three hours but, owing to her heavy armour, the Huascar managed to escape to shallow waters at the close of day; a subsequent cutting out expedition also failed. Knowler was subsequently among those Bluejackets landed for service in the Zulu War in 1879.

Serving in H.M.S. Euphrates during the Egyptian operations, Knowler remained with the fleet until he was shore pensioned on 27 Aril 1888.