The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Four: South Africa 1877-79, clasp, 1879 (Lieut. C. Caffin, R.N. H.M.S. “Boadicea”); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, El-Teb (Commdr. C. Caffin, R.N. H.M.S. Sphinx); Khedive’s Star 1884; Order of the Medjidie, 3rd class neck badge in silver, gold and enamels, good very fine (4)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Crawford Caffin was born on 20 July 1844. He first entered as a Naval Cadet aboard H.M.S. ILLUSTRIOUS on 6 March 1858, and completed his training aboard H.M.S. BRITANNIA from January to June 1859. Cadet Caffin was amongst the first term to be trained aboard BRITANNIA. He subsequently served aboard H.M. Ships MERSEY (1859-61) where he was promoted to Midshipman on 20 July 1860, then sent to REVENGE (1862-64) where he received promotion to Sub Lieutenant on 19 January 1864. He was promoted to Lieutenant R.N. in a death vacancy on 24 December 1865 whilst serving aboard CALEDONIA (1865-68). After serving aboard BEAGLE (1875-77) he joined BOADICEA on 13 February 1879 and was lent to SHAH, from 12 June until 24 July 1879, before returning to his proper appointment aboard BOADICEA until paid off in February 1880, having been promoted to Commander 3 July 1879 for his services in Zululand as a Transport Officer since 16 March 1879. Borne on the books of H.M.S. THALIA as a Commander from 10 August 1882 as a Transport Officer, and mentioned in the C-in-C Mediterranean's despatch dated 23 October 1882 as serving in Cyprus but not awarded any foreign decoration for that particular Egyptian campaign. Whilst commanding H.M.S. SPHINX (1883-84), he earned the ‘El Teb’ clasp to an undated Egypt campaign medal and was also awarded the Medjidie 3rd Class. Although written up in Lean's Navy List as receiving the ‘Suakin’ clasp, the medal rolls do not substantiate this statement for either of the clasps for 1884 or 1885. His next appointment was aboard H.M.S . PRESIDENT (1886-89), and finally he spent his last two years of active service with the Coast Guard (1889-90). Retired with the rank of Captain on 14 October 1890, and subsequently died on 9 March 1891.