Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Witu 1890 (W. H. Hooper, A.B., H.M.S. Brisk.) good very fine £200-£240

William Henry Hooper was born in Plymouth on 12 December 1865 and joined the Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class on 7 January 1881. Advanced Able Seaman aboard H.M.S. Tenedos on 29 July 1885, he transferred to the newly commissioned Archer-class cruiser H.M.S. Brisk on 20 March 1888 and was present aboard her during the punitive expedition against the Sultan of Witu from 17-27 October 1890. Hooper was later invalided from the service on 3 September 1897, his character described as ‘fair’. He died in hospital a short while later.