The campaign group of three awarded to Admiral's Steward W. White

lot/the campaign group of three awarded to admiral s steward w white DxWyMnk 632430154 / Price history

lot/the campaign group of three awarded to admiral s steward w white DxWyMnk 632430154

For saleAuction results

lot/the campaign group of three awarded to admiral s steward w white DxWyMnk 632430154

For saleAuction results

Bring your auction to collectors worldwide!

Get listed now

The campaign group of three awarded to Admiral's Steward W. White

The campaign group of three awarded to Admiral's Steward W. White, Royal Navy, who served as Steward to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Keppel, commander of the Naval Brigade at Sebastopol and the British Fleet at Fatshan Creek, between 1853-61 Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (William White, Naval Brigade) contemporarily engraved naming; Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue, unnamed, the first two fitted with silver ribbon buckles, good very fine (3) Ex-Tim Ash Collection. William White was born at Dublin, Ireland on 3 June 1824, and was employed during his early years as a domestic servant. He joined the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. St Jean D'Acre at Plymouth on 23 August 1853. After a period of probationary service he was appointed Steward to the Captain on 16 October following, the captain of the ship being the Hon. Henry Keppel, R.N. White served as Keppel's Steward, firstly aboard the St Jean D'Acre, which was engaged in the Baltic and then in the Crimea, both of which led to the issue of campaign medals. He followed Keppel to the Officer's other postings, being borne on the books of Rodney, when he took command of the Naval Brigade. White later saw service with Colossus and Raleigh, the latter ship being lost at sea when she struck a submerged rock near Hong Kong. Her crew were engaged during the China war of 1857, under Captain Keppel, and White received the medal with clasp for Fatshan 1857. In 1859 Keppel was appointed Groom in Waiting to Queen Victoria and, though he does not mention White in his memoirs at this time, it is probable that White remained in his service during this period. Keppel was appointed to the command of the Cape Station aboard H.M.S. Forte in 1860, where White was again recorded as being with him. The next year, following a contretemps with the Governor at the Cape, Keppel was appointed to the command off the South East Coast of America, a post Keppel considered junior to that of the Cape. He therefore resigned the command off Brazil, handed over H.M.S. Forte to his successor and returned to England, again with White as his Steward, aboard the Emerald. When Admiral Keppel struck his flag aboard Emerald on 6 August 1861, White was also struck off on the same day. How long he remained in Keppel's service is not known as Keppel himself did not return to sea until 1866, when he was appointed to the China Command. However, amongst the many letters of congratulation that he received at this time was one 'from my old Steward, William White, now an Admiralty Messenger'. White's death was recorded in September 1883. Note: The Baltic medal was not present when Tim Ash purchased these medals in 1997 and was added to complete the group. The full story is told in an article published in the O.M.R.S. Journal, Winter 1999. Since then the China Medal has been lost from the group. Sold with a comprehensive file of research, a portrait photograph believed to be of the recipient with his family and a letter from Queen Camilla to a previous owner confirming that Admiral Keppel was her 'great-great-great-great-uncle' Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate:£400

Sold for:£360