Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Mercantile Marine Service Association of Liverpool, Prize Medal, 35mm, silver-gilt, the reverse engraved ‘To William Shepley Taylor, for the greatest general proficiency in all branches of training & education on board the school frigate Conway, June 1863’, fitted with small scroll suspension and contained in a damaged fitted presentation case, nearly extremely fine and scarce £300-£400

William Shepley Taylor was awarded his Mercantile Marine Service Association prize medal in June 1863, and was subsequently nominated for a cadetship in Royal Navy. He entered Royal Navy on 8 September 1863, and was appointed to H.M.S. Royal Oak on 2 September 1870. He was discharged on 13 June 1871 (to find own passage), his discharge being granted to avoid his being tried by court martial. He died in Birkenhead in 1896.