A Collection of Medals to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines formed by Commander Ron Champion, RN

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Lieut. F. E. M. Roe, R.N., H.M.S. Sybille) extremely fine £200-250

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines formed by Commander Ron Champion, RN.

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Frank Edward Mervyn Roe entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet in July 1890 and had gained advancement to Lieutenant by the time of joining H.M.S. Sybille.

The Sybille was the only Royal Navy ship to be lost during the Boer War when she ran aground in bad weather off Lambert’s Bay on 16 January 1901. The Captain was ashore at the time - some reports had it that he and other Officers were attending a party - and four Officers were subsequently found guilty at a court-martial for her loss. The crew abandoned the Sybille after she struck a reef during the night and were taken off in five boats, a process that took ten hours.

Interestingly, in light of the above events, Roe was ‘retired under the provisions of Order of Council of 30 December 1884’ in late 1902.

Opting for a commission in the Army on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Roe died of wounds in Belgium on 7 June 1916, while serving as a Captain, attached 12th Battalion, Rifle Brigade.