The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

China 1900, no clasp (J. Degnan, Pte. R.M. N.W. Fort Taku) good very fine

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

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John Degnan was born in Gainsborough, Yorkshire, on 17 April 1881, and was a labourer prior to enlisting in the Royal Marines on 27 December 1898. Following Recruit Training at the Deal Depot he joined the Plymouth Division as a Private on 30 November 1899. He embarked in HMS CENTURION on 30 June 1900, and transferred to PHOENIX for duty at North West Fort Taku on 2 October 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion. He next served aboard GLORY (July 1901), transferred to TERRIBLE (August 1901) and served until 24 October 1902. Whilst in TERRIBLE he transferred to the Chatham Division in September 1902, and embarked next aboard EDINBURGH (June 1903-January 1904) when he again returned to the Chatham Depot prior to embarking aboard KING ALFRED in January 1905. He next joined PEMBROKE (June 1905), ANTRIM (July 1905) and ROXBURGH (March 1906). He returned to the Chatham Depot on 11 April 1906 before embarking in ROYAL OAK(June 1906), ACTAEON (November 1906), and served until 13 June 1907 when he returned to the Chatham Division prior to being discharged to shore ‘services no longer required’. His general character was assessed as ‘indifferent’ and having deserted in October 1903 he forfeited all chances of his L.S. & G.C. medal. His China medal is shown on the medal roll both as ‘Duplicate issued’ and as ‘Returned’ .