Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War O.B.E. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Commander E. Duffett, Royal Navy, whose career in the Royal Navy spanned almost half a century

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1918; South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (E. Duffet [sic], Ldg. Sean., H.M.S. Active.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (E. Duffett, Gunr. R.N. H.M.S. Cygnet.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lieut. E. Duffett. R.N.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, very light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (5) £1,400-£1,800

Provenance: Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996.

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 April 1919:
‘For valuable services in connection with recruiting.’

Edward Duffett served very nearly fifty years in the Royal Navy, commencing his time as a Boy 2nd Class in 1870 and ultimately receiving the O.B.E. as a Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April 1919. Born in Portsea, Hampshire, on 3 September 1855 he joined the service as a Boy 2nd Class serving in H.M.S. Inconstant on 13 April 1870. He served in H.M.S. Spartan for two years and was advanced Able Seaman in June 1875. Drafted to H.M.S. Active on 15 April 1877, he served in her during the South African War, rising to Leading Seaman in April 1878 and to Petty Officer 2nd Class in April 1879 with immediate advancement to Petty Officer 1st Class one month later. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 1 November 1883 as a Petty Officer 1st Class aboard H.M.S. Neptune just two months prior to his promotion to Gunner, R.N., on 4 January 1884, when he was appointed to H.M.S. Cygnet for her commission ending on 15 March 1887.

Duffett subsequently served as a Gunner R.N. aboard H.M. Ships Cygnet (1884-87), St. Vincent (1887-90), Gannet (1890-94), Excellent (1894-1900), and Tamar (1900-02), and received promotion to Chief Gunner R.N. on 1 April 1903. He served on the books of H.M.S. President (1906-08) and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in October 1908. When due to be placed on the Retired List on reaching the age of 55 years in September 1910 he received special dispensation, retaining employment in the Recruiting Service since he was ‘very largely responsible for working up the recruiting in his District’, serving on the books in H.M.S. Pembroke from April 1911 to the cessation of hostilities for duties with the East London Recruiting District. He received promotion to Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October 1916, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire at the end of the War. Reverting to the Retired List on 1 January 1920, he died from chronic bronchitis on 26 February 1942, aged 86 years.

Sold with copied research.

Note: Duplicate South Africa Medal and clasp issued on 16 February 1887.