A Collection of Medals to Offices and Ratings of H.M.S. Penelope

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 2 clasps, Alexandria 11th July, Suakin 1885 (J. T. Robertson, Writer 3 Cl., H.M.S. Penelope) edge bruising and contact marks, good fine or better £200-250

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Offices and Ratings of H.M.S. Penelope.

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The only man in this rate listed on the Penelope’s roll.

James Thomas Robertson was born in Co. Cork, Ireland in January 1860 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy Writer in November 1874. A Writer 3rd Class by the time of his service in H.M.S. Penelope (February 1882 to January 1885), he went on to add the “Suakin 1885” clasp to his Medal for services aboard the Sphinx in March-June 1885 in the rate of Writer 2nd Class. Robertson was pensioned ashore in the latter rate in January 1898 and died in Walworth, London in April 1904, aged 45 years; sold with a file of research, including copied service record and an extract from the Southwark & Bermondsey Recorder and South London Gazette, this latter with the sad details surrounding his early demise, as reported by his landlady at a Coroner’s inquest.