Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

The Great War C.B. group of ten awarded to Admiral E. V. Underhill, Royal Navy, Commended and awarded the Russian Order of St Anne for services in command of H.M.S. Temeraire at Jutland

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, with neck cravat in its Garrard, London case of issue; East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (Lieut. E. V. Underhill H.M.S. Philomel) official correction to one letter of surname; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Lieut. E. V. Underhill, R.N. H.M.S. Gibraltar); 1914-15 Star (Capt. E. V. Underhill, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. E. V. Underhill. R.N.); Coronation 1911, unnamed as issued; Khedive’s Star, undated, with Tokar clasp, unnamed as issued; Russia, Kingdom, Order of St Anne, 2nd Class neck badge with Swords by Eduard, gold and enamels, one sword blade detached on this; Spain, Kindom, Order of Naval Merit, 3rd Class breast star, white model (special service), silver-gilt and enamels, nearly very fine or better (10) £3,000-£4,000

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

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Approximately 14 Tokar clasps issued to Royal Navy officers, including 7 to H.M.S. Sandfly.

C.B. (Military) London Gazette 3 June 1918: ‘For services in command of H.M.S. Temeraire.’

His Naval service is amply recorded in The Times obituary from 4 May 1928:
‘Admiral Edwin Veale Underhill, C.B., whose death occurred suddenly at South-Sea on Sunday at the age of 60, saw active
service on three occasions during land operations in the ‘90’s, and was a Captain throughout the late war, being in command of a battleship at Jutland. He was afterwards Admiral-Superintendent at Devonport.

Admiral Underhill came from a naval family, for his father was Paymaster-in-Chief G. W. Underhill, R.N., of Lugley House,
Newport, Isle of Wight. Born on March 27, 1868, the late Admiral entered the Britannia as a Cadet in January 1881, and first
went to sea two years later in the screw corvette Sapphire, which commissioned at Devonport under Captain (later Admiral
Sir) John Fullerton for the China Station.

Promoted to Lieutenant in October 1890, he was serving in the Sandfly, gunboat, during the operations at Tokar, Eastern Sudan, in 1891, for which he was awarded the Khedive's bronze Star [with clasp 'Tokar']. He specialised in the navigating branch, and as Lieutenant (N) of the cruiser Philomel was present when the Sultan of Zanzibar's palace was bombarded and captured on August 27, 1896, by the Squadron under Rear Admiral Rawson. Six months later he was landed for duty with the expedition under the Rear Admiral for the punishment of the King of Benin for the massacre of a political expedition, and was awarded the General Africa Medal with Benin clasp.

He was promoted to Commander in June 1902, and to Captain in December 1907, at which latter date he was on the staff at Portsmouth Dockyard. A few weeks before the outbreak of War with Germany he took Command of H.M.S. Devonshire in the Third Cruiser Squadron, Grand Fleet, and in March 1916, was transferred to command H.M.S. Temeraire, in the Fourth Battle Squadron. For his services in the Temeraire at Jutland he was commended in Admiral Jellicoe's despatch, and in June 1918, was appointed C.B. The Temeraire was placed during the action in the Fourth Division, led by Vice-Admiral Sturdee in the Benbow.

In his report on the battle Captain Underhill stated that the Temeraire was not hit but a few shots fell close, notably one which came close to the mainmast and one which hit the water about 500 yards short on the starboard bow, passing over the forecastle. “The behaviour of the ship's company”, he added, “was all that could be desired, they were cheerful and eager for the fight” Leaving the Temeraire on his promotion to rear-admiral in February 1919, Admiral Underhill was nominated in the following September as Admiral Superintendent at Devonport Dockyard where he served until September 1922. On September 1, 1924 he was promoted to Vice-Admiral, and retired as from the following day, being advanced to Admiral on the retired List on April 5, 1928.’

Underhill’s record of service also confirms that ‘Bronze Star awarded for operations at Tokar Feb ‘91’; Spanish “Cross for Naval Merit of the Third Class” conferred on him by King of Spain on occasion of launch of a Spanish Ship at Ferrol, February 1912; Order of St Anne 2nd Class with Swords Gaz 5 June 1917.’ He was appointed A.D.C. to the King from 3 September 1918 to 3 February 1919.

Sold with copied record of service, Times obituary and other research.