Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

An unusual C.I.E. group of eight awarded to Rear-Admiral W. S. Goodridge, Royal Navy and Director of the Royal Indian Marine, Honorary A.D.C. to the King during his vist to India for the Delhi Durbar in 1903

The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, C.I.E., Companion’s 2nd type breast badge, gold and enamels, complete with brooch bar; Jubilee 1887, silver; Coronation 1902, silver; Delhi Durbar 1903, silver; Abyssinia 1867 (Midsn. W. S. Goodridge H.M.S. Octavia) suspension claw neatly re-affixed on this; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (Lieut W. S. Goodridge, R.N. H.M.S. Sphinx); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Capt. W. S. Goodridge, R.N., C.I.E., Royal Indian Marine; Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, mounted as worn, good very fine or better (8) £2,400-£2,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Collection

Alan Hall Collection, June 2000.

C.I.E. London Gazette 1 January 1901.

Walter Somerville Goodridge was born at Bath on 30 March 1849. He entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet aged 13 years aboard H.M.S. Britannia on 10 June 1852. On passing out of college he obtained a Third Class Certificate and was appointed to Victory, for disposal, on 18 September 1863. During the next twelve months, as part of his naval education, he served for short periods aboard H.M. Ships Alert, October 1863, and Sutlej, September 1864. In the latter ship he was promoted to Midshipman on 21 September 1864. Next appointed to Octavia, August 1867, and during the next two years was loaned to Warrior, Simoom and Satellite to obtain experience in different types of ships. His service in Octavia, flying the flag of Commodore L. G. Heath, C.B., was recognised by the award of the Abyssinia Medal. Promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 21 March 1869, and on paying off from Octavia he joined the Royal Naval College at Excellent in July 1869. On passing his examinations he was appointed to Duke of Wellington in December 1869 and over the next twelve months served short periods aboard H.M. Ships Valorous, Royal Alfred, and Niobe, before being appointed to Royal Alfred in March 1871. He remained in the latter ship until paying off in March 1873, having been promoted to Lieutenant on 30 December 1872.

From May to June 1873 he was attached to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and took part in the expedition to Kerguelen Island for observing the transit of Venus. His next appointments were to Active, September 1874, Supply, April 1875, Fisgard, May 1875, Malabar, September 1875, and Daphne in March 1876. From July to August 1876 he served as Acting Commander. He was a gifted linguist and during the 27 months he served in this vessel he qualified as an Interpreter in Hindi in January 1877, Persian in August 1877, and Arabic in March 1878.

His next appointments serving on the East Indies Station were to Vestal, January 1879, followed by London, June 1880, engaged in anti slave running patrols on the East Coast of Africa until January 1884, during which time over 120 prizes, with several hundred slaves were captured; and was appointed Acting Commander on the massacre of Captain Brownrigg and boat’s crew of London by Arab slavers.

From February 1884 until May 1885, he was employed in the Naval Transport Department in connection with the expeditions to Suakin aboard Cygnet, March 1884, and Sphinx, April 1884. During the time spent in Egypt and the Sudan he qualified in March 1883 as an interpreter in Swahili. Transport Duties in 1885 aboard Sphinx at Suakin earned him the Egyptian War Medal and clasp 'Suakin 1885'. He was favourably Mentioned in the Despatch from Captain Fellowes, Senior Transport Officer, Suakin. On promotion to Commander on 30 June 1885, he was appointed to Alexandra, flag ship of Admiral Lord John Hay, Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet as Principal Transport Officer, Egypt.

In September 1888 he was appointed to the command of the troopship Tyne. On the completion of three years in command he was placed ashore on half-pay until promoted to Captain on 30 June 1892. He joined President in September 1892 and underwent the Senior Officers' Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. His first seagoing appointment as a Captain was to the cruiser Spartan in July 1893, followed by the Coast Defence Ship Magdala, based at Bombay in November 1893. Whilst in command of Magdala he received the thanks of the Government of India for his services whilst in charge of the Naval Defence of India and for the great personal interest taken in the training of the officers of the Royal Indian Marine.

In June 1897 he was appointed to command of the cruiser Isis for the Summer Fleet Manoeuvres, and in this ship he took part in the Jubilee Fleet Review, receiving the 1897 Jubilee Medal. In March 1898 he was selected for the post of Director of the Royal Indian Marine, a position he held until his retirement as a Rear-Admiral in March 1904. He was Honorary A.D.C. to the Viceroy of India from October 1898 to March 1904. During his service as Director of the Royal Indian Marine he received the 1902 Coronation Medal and the 1903 Delhi Durbar Medal and was made Honorary A.D.C. to King Edward VII during his visit to India. The King later bestowed upon him the dignity of the Companion of the Indian Empire (C.I.E.), being one of the very few Royal Navy officers thus honoured. The 1903 Navy List shows three serving Royal Navy Officers as having received the award.

His services were further honoured by the award of the Queen's South Africa Medal, without clasp, for his work in connection with the Royal Indian Marine participation and the efficient manner in which Indian troops were despatched to South Africa, he was the Senior R.I.M. officer to receive the Medal. He was also mentioned in Lord Roberts’ Despatch of September 1901. In January 1900 he was informed that Their Lordships had received information commending him for the speedy despatch of the force from India to South Africa with much satisfaction, bearing testimony to the able manner in which he has performed his duties. Their Lordships also expressed their appreciation of the complementary letter from Rear-Admiral D. H. Bosanquet, Commander in Chief, appreciating his services as Director of the Royal Indian Marine.

Their Lordships expressed their approval of the skill and seamanship he displayed in convoying seven boats to Halifax, Nova Scotia, under great difficulties and in very boisterous weather in September 1890. In September 1903 he was awarded a Captain's Good Service Pension. His death at the age of 80 years was announced in The Times of 4 April 1929.

Sold with copied record of service and other research.