Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The important Boer War C.B., M.V.O. group of three awarded to Vice-Admiral R. C. Prothero, Royal Navy, who was severely wounded at the battle of Graspan when in command of the Naval Brigade

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels; The Royal Victorian Order, M.V.O., Member’s 4th Class, breast badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamels, the reverse officially numbered ‘147’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Belmont (Capt. R. C. Prothero, R.N, H.M.S. Doris) impressed naming, original Spink & Son, Piccadilly court-style mounting, nearly extremely fine (3) £5,000-£7,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

View
Collection

Alan Hall Collection, June 2000.

C.B. (Military) London Gazette 6 November 1900: ‘For services in South Africa.’ One of 8 such awards to the Royal Navy for South Africa.

M.V.O. London Gazette 2 June 1903: ‘Commanded H.M.S. Implacable; H.M’s visit to Malta.
Reginald Prothero was born on 15 June 1849. At the age of 13 years 6 months he entered the Royal Navy on 9 December 1862, as a Cadet aboard the Training Ship Britannia. On passing out in June 1864 he was awarded a 3rd Class Certificate and on joining his first ship H.M.S. Victory he was promoted to Midshipman on 1 September 1864. During his time aboard Victory he served for short periods of training in the following ships: Geyser, Warrior, Meednee, Orlando and Liffey. In May 1866 he was appointed to Victoria where he served for 18 months until posted to Excellent in October 1867. On promotion to Acting Sub Lieutenant on 23 April 1870, he joined the Royal Naval College at Portsmouth. On passing out of Excellent he obtained three 2nd Class Certificates and was confirmed in the rank of Sub Lieutenant on 22 July 1870.

His next seagoing appointments were to Research, April 1871; Royal Adelaide, September 1872; Impregnable, January 1873; and Fantome, November 1873. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 8 August 1874, and in July 1875 he was granted 9 months foreign leave to accept employment with the Mexican Government. On his return to England he was appointed to the following ships: Magpie, July 1876; Nassau, November 1878; Magpie, November 1878; Tyne, March 1881; Duke of Wellington, June 1881; and Vernon, October 1881. In the latter ship he underwent a Torpedo Course and obtained a 3rd Class Certificate. He next joined Excellent, November 1881 for a Gunnery Course where he was awarded a 2nd Class Certificate.

His next appointment was to Assistance, March 1882; he later transferred to Himalaya in December 1882 and remained in this vessel until January 1886. He next joined Spey, July 1886, followed by Canada in September 1886 and Devastation in January 1889. Whilst in the latter ship he was promoted to Commander on 30 June 1889. In his new rank he was appointed to Edinburgh in January 1890; Nile, June 1891;and Achilles in October 1894. Promoted to Captain in January 1895. He was given command of Trafalgar in April 1896, followed by Revenge in December 1896 and Doris in April 1898, as Flag Captain to Rear Admiral Sir Robert Harris, Commander in Chief on the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station.

Following the outbreak of War in South Africa Captain Prothero was landed in November 1899 in command of a Naval Brigade drawn from H.M. Ships Doris, Monarch, and Powerful. The Brigade joined Lieutenant-General Lord Methuen on 22 November and on the 24th Captain Prothero was informed that he and his men were to have the honour of leading the attack at the battle of Graspan. Following an artillery bombardment of the Boer positions the seamen and marines deployed into a single line on the right of the attack with intervals of four paces between the men. They advanced on the enemy's position led in the centre by Captain Prothero, on the left by Major Plumbe R.M.L.I., and on the right by Commander Ethelston; the two last named officers were killed during the action.

The enemy opened a withering frontal fire at about 600 yards which was later supplemented by an equally heavy cross fire. Notwithstanding, the Naval Brigade continued to steadily advance by rushes. Well over six feet tall Captain Prothero had a charmed life; men were being knocked down all around him as he led his men forwards. With the top of the kopje in sight he was struck down and was unwillingly carried to the rear. The Naval Brigade had been decimated and command devolved to Captain A. E. Marchant, R.M.L.I. Captain Prothero in his Despatch relates how the fire was so hot that several times he saw a man hit three times before he reached the ground. There was not a moment of hesitation in the Naval Brigade as they continued to advance to the summit of the kopje, driving the Boers before them until they were in full retreat.

In his report to Rear Admiral Harris, Captain Marchant stated that ‘Captain Prothero both before and after he was wounded behaved with great gallantry and coolness and from the ground where he had been struck down continued to urge his men forward until he was reluctantly removed to the rear.’ For this action Captain Prothero was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the C.B. (Military).

Following recovery from his wounds aboard Doris, Captain Prothero was again landed to command the Dockyard Defence Corps at Simonstown and acted as Commandant of the town in February 1901 when the Boers were threatening Cape Colony. In November 1902 he was given Command of H.M.S. Implacable and remained in this vessel until promoted to Flag Rank in February 1906. In 1903 he was awarded the M.V.O., for services during the visit of King Edward VII to Malta. Shortly after this appointment he was placed on the Retired List (age) having served for nearly thirty years. In July 1910 he was promoted to Vice-Admiral on the Retired List. He died on 26 May 1927 aged 78 years.

In the book 'Fabulous Admirals' by Commander Geoffrey Lewis, A.F.C., R.N., fourteen pages are given to career of Rear-Admiral Prothero when he was serving as a Commander and Captain in the Mediterranean Fleet and provides both an informative and humorous insight into the man who became a larger than life legend in naval circles.