Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Chief Petty Officer T. N. Sly, Royal Navy

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (T. N. Sly, Boy 1 Cl. H.M.S. Carysfort.); China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (T. N. Sly, P.O. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Aurora.); British War Medal 1914-20 (120900 T. N. Sly. C.P.O. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (120900 T. N. Sly, C.P.O., H.M.S. Queen.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1884-6, unnamed as issued, pitting and contact marks, nearly very fine (5) £500-£700

Thomas Nathaniel Sly was born in Tavistock, Devon, on 27 June 1867 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class on 2 September 1882. He served in H.M.S. Carysfort from 5 April 1884 and saw active during the Suakin Expedition of 1885, being promoted Able Seaman on 1 April 1886. Advanced Petty Officer First Class on 30 October 1895, he served in H.M.S. Aurora from 16 February 1899, and saw active service during the Boxer Rebellion, during which the Aurora’s crew took a part in both the Seymour expedition, which got as far as Langfang before being forced to retreat, and at the defence of Tientsin. Advanced Acting Chief Petty Officer on 18 March 1901, being confirmed in that rate on 18 March 1902, he served in H.M.S. Queen from 19 September 1906 to 19 April 1907, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Shore pensioned on 4 July 1909, he joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Devonport on 18 July 1909. Recalled for Great War service on 2 August 1914, he served for the entirety of the Great War borne on the books of the shore based establishment H.M.S. Vivid (entitled to a British War Medal only), and was demobilised on 7 February 1919.