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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 362

Pair: Stoker G. Tomlin, Royal Navy, whose unusual service saw him take part in the Battle of Pacocha against a Peruvian warship

Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (G. Tomlin. H.M.S, Bittern. 73-74); South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (G. Tomlin. Stoker. H.M.S. "Shah"), the naming divided by suspension post as common to the Royal Navy, light contact wear, very fine (2)

George Tomlin was born at Subdeanry, Chichester, Sussex on 23 May 1853 and enlisted with Bittern on 1 January 1873 as Ordinary Seaman. He was still with this vessel when she took part in the Ashantee expedition, given his lack of experience it is unsurprising that he was not chosen to join naval brigade marching on Coomassie.

He served with several vessels over the next few years until being posted to Shah in August 1876 and as such he was present for the Battle of Pacocha the next year. Here Shah and Amethyst faced off with an ironclad in the hands of Peruvian rebels. The action proved fairly indecisive however it is notable as during the fighting Shah fired the first self-propelled torpedo at the enemy.

Leaving the Pacific Station she was at St. Helena when news arrived of the Isandlwana massacre. Shah at once left for South Africa where she provided a Naval Brigade for the British forces on the ground. Tomlin was serving as a Stoker at the time and continued to do so until he was promoted Leading Stoker on 11 December 1886. Tomlin was finally discharged on 6 June 1891.


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Sold for
£520

Starting price
£210