The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Lieut. R. O. Polwhele, H.M.S. “Tamar”) good very fine

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

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Richard Polwhele was born on 18 January 1854 in St Stephens, Near Saltash, Cornwall. First entered as a Naval Cadet aboard H.M.S. BRITANNIA on 29 January 1868, being trained there until July 1869, when he was made a Midshipman and appointed to H.M.S. BRISTOL until April 1870. He later served a commission aboard H.M.S. SPARTAN (1871-74), passing for Lieutenant aboard her at Antigua, and was automatically promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 19 January 1874. He passed out of R.N. College, Portsmouth, on 18 June 1875, and subsequently served aboard H.M.S. SWIFTSURE (1875-78) in which vessel he earned a Bronze Royal Humane Society medal on 15 March 1877 when he jumped overboard from SWIFTSURE in the Gulf of Salonica, when his vessel was travelling at six knots, to assist in saving the life of Able Seaman G. Robinson. This award aided his promotion to Lieutenant on 28 December 1877. He then served aboard H.M. Ships TAMAR (1880-82), ROYAL ADELAIDE (1884-87), TAMAR (1887-91) and PENELOPE (1891-93). He was transferred to the Coast Guard Service on 22 June 1894, from which on reaching the age limit he was retured as a Commander on 30 January 1899. He died on 27 April 1903.