Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Able Seaman H. W. Pursell, Royal Navy

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Cape Colony (H. W. Pursell, A.B. H.M.S. Barrosa); British War and Victory Medals (188513 H. W. Pursell. A.B. R.N.) mounted on card for display, good very fine (3) £160-£200

Henry William Pursell was born at St Albans, Hertford, on 2 March 1881, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd class aboard H.M.S. Impregnable on 22 April 1896. Advanced to Boy 1st class in February 1897, he served in Barrosa from September 1898 to August 1899, being advanced to Ordinary Seaman in March 1899, and, following a brief period in Doris in August and September 1899, rejoined Barrosa again on 5 September 1899. He was advanced to Able Seaman on 13 February 1900, and remained in Barrosa until 24 May 1901, being one of 31 recipients of the Queen’s medal with the single clasp for Cape Colony. He was discharged to shore by purchase for the Royal Fleet Reserve on 8 December 1905, which he joined the following day, and was discharged ‘time expired’ on 1 March 1911. He was recalled for service in April 1917 and served aboard Calypso from June 1917 to December 1918, and was finally demobilised on 21 March 1919.

Sold with copied record of service.