The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (W. Potham, Dom. 2nd Cl. H.M.S. “Tenedos”) nearly extremely fine

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

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Collection

141 medals without clasp to the ship.
William Potham was born at Devonport on 25 March 1848. After earning his living in civilian life as a baker, he joined the service as Captain's Cook's Assistant on 1 August 1866 aboard H.M.S. ACHILLES. Serving in the same function aboard his next vessel, H.M.S. DEFENCE, a misdemeanour landed him in prison in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for a month in October 1869. After a commission aboard H.M.S. CAMELEON as Domestic 2nd Class he joined H.M.S. TENEDOS in March 1878 and was advanced to Domestic 1st Class in January 1879 prior to being paid off in December 1880. He was invalided from the service whilst aboard H.M.S. COCKATRICE on 23 April 1882.