The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Three: Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (F. C. Bennett, Stoker, H.M.S. Jumna); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (F. C. Bennett, Ldg. Sto. 1st Cl. H.M.S. Sybille); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (F. C. Bennett, Ldg. Sto. 1st Cl. H.M.S. Victory) impressed naming, generally good very fine (3)

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

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Frederick Bennett was born in Buckland, Portsmouth, on 4 April 1862. He entered as a Stoker 2nd Class aboard ASIA on 11 May 1882, and soon joined the vessel in which he was to earn this Soudan award, JUMNA (1882-86) where he was advanced to Stoker 1st Class during February 1883. In his next vessel he took part in one of the historic commissions of any H.M. Ship. He served aboard H.M.S CALLIOPE (1887-90) and took part in this vessel's escape from Apia on 15 March 1899 in the teeth of a Hurricane which wrecked every other vessel in harbour with her. The triumph of battling her way to sea against the volence of the wind, at just one knot, was due to the admirable order in which the Cruiser's engines and boilers had been kept, and spoke in the highest terms of CALLIOPE's Engineers and Stokers. He received advancement to Leading Stoker aboard ASIA during October 1890 and subsequently served aboard CROCODILE (1892-94) where he was made a Leading Stoker 1st Class during April 1893, WALLAROO (1894-96) and HANNIBAL (1898-1900). He earned his Boer War medal whilst serving aboard H.M.S. SYBILLE (1900-01) and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. medal whilst on the books of H.M.S. VICTORY on 7 May 1902. Remained as a Stoker (Pensioner) for a short time in the service after being pensioned 3 June 1902, and was finally discharged to shore on 31 March 1903. He joined the R.F.R. in June 1902, and was recalled for service on 14 August 1914 as a Stoker Petty Officer, but was soon demobilised on 19 October 1914 without earning a British War Medal.