The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Pair: India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Persia (G. B. Hewett, Mate, Euphrates, Brig.); Abyssinia 1867-68 (Lieutt. G. B. Hewett, Late Indian Navy, Expedy. Force) light contact marks, otherwise very fine and scarce (2)

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

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George B. Hewett was born on 30 July 1834 in Kent. He joined the Indian Navy on 7 June 1851 as a Midshipman, promoted to Mate on 5 September 1856 (Acting Lieutenant December 1857) and to Lieutenant on 18 October 1862. Thereafter he was one of the few officers to be employed in the Bombay Marine after the abolition of the Indian Navy on 30 April 1863, commanding a number of different vessels until 1872, when he came ashore to serve in Bombay Dockyard for many years as "Dock Master" and was retired as "Staff Officer" on 25 September 1885.

He was present as a Midshipman at the successful attack by twelve boats containing 200 seamen and marines of the Squadron (CLIVE, FALKLAND, TIGRIS and CONSTANCE) on the piratical Chief Humeed bin Majdull on 24 November 1854, at Anich, near El Kateef. Whilst aboard the Surveying Brig EUPHRATES he “served ashore with the Naval Brigade at the entrenched camp subsequent to the occupation of Bushire 10 December 1856”.

At Ahwaz,100 miles up the River Karoon from its junction at the Shatt Al Arab, on 1 April 1857, a force of 7,000 men of the Persian Army were found to be guarding the banks of the river. The attacking force was small, consisting of COMET, PLANET and ASSYRIA, eight gun-boats, and men of the 78th Highlanders and the 64th Regiment. Mate George Hewett commanded No 5 gun-boat, with Midshipman D'Arcy and fourteen seamen aboard, of whom Captain G. H. Hunt in a published work (I.O. Library 21.E.l9) especially referred “in terms of admiration, to the coolness and accuracy of fire of Mr G. B. Hewett; a very gallant young officer”. In a despatch to Sir James Outram mention is made of the steady and accurate fire of the gun-boats, which completely nullified any attempt by the enemy to bring their guns to bear on our troops.

After hostilities had been decided upon to secure the release of hostages held by King Theodore of Abyssinia, a pioneer Expedition was despatched from Bombay on 15 September 1867 under the command of Colonel William L. Merewether, who sailed for Annesley Bay with his staff officers and some troops aboard the Bombay Marine Steamer COROMANDEL, commanded by Lieutenant George B. Hewett. A reconnoitring party was set up which included Hewett and Lieutenant E. Dawes whose functions were those of selecting and making rough charts of the landing places for the troops of the main Expedition. Their work was aided by the earlier (April to August 1867) preparatory survey work carried out on the Abyssinian coastline by Lieutenant G. O'B. Carew (late I.N.) commanding DALHOUSIE.

An encomium was written by Captain George Tryon R.N. upon completion of the Abyssinian rescue operation stating: - “I take the liberty of mentioning the names of two officers of the late Indian Navy who materially assisted me. Lieutenant Hewett ably commanded the powerful Bombay Marine steamer COROMANDEL and did excellent work in the Red Sea during the whole of the Expedition. His ship was always ready when wanted.”