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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 379

A rare campaign pair awarded to Chief Petty Officer (Coast Guard) E. Purslow, Royal Navy later Coastguard, who was later awarded the Board of Trade lifesaving medal for the wreck of the Jebba in 1907 and the Royal Humane Society's Testimonial on Vellum for a lifesaving attempt at Lowestoft on 29 August 1914

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1887-8 (E. Purslow, A.B. H.M.S. Acorn); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R. (Edwin Purslow, Commd Boatn, H.M. Coast Guard), contact wear overall, very fine (2)

One of only 12 1887-8 clasps issued to the crew of Acorn and one of only 38 to the Royal Navy.

Edwin Purslow was born at St. Mary's, Gloster on 14 February 1861 and enlisted with the Royal Navy as Boy Class II on 24 February 1876. Appointed Ordinary Seaman on 14 February 1879 with Torquoise upon coming of age he was advanced Able Seaman on 1 February 1884 with Royal Adelaide.

Posted to the sloop Acorn on 22 February 1887 he was one of just 14 members of her crew to go ashore with the Naval Brigade during the Yoni Expedition. The bluejackets manned three guns, one old muzzle-loader, a 7-pounder and a Maxim Gun. Purslow was one of just 38 men to take part in this duty. The men of the Naval Brigade took the lead during the attacks upon Robarrie and Macondoo, two of the main Yoni centres.

Surviving the expedition Purslow joined the Coastguard the next year as Boatman, being advanced Commanding Boatman on 4 March 1896. Soon advanced Chief Boatman in 1904 he was stationed at Hope Cove from 25 March of that year and was still there two years later during the sinking of the Jebba.

This vessel was driven onto the rocks of Bolt Tail, near Hope Cove, Devon in March of that year. An attempt to reach her by boat failed and in the end two men Isaac Jarvis and John Argeat climbed down the cliff with a rope which was used to rescue the crew. It is noted that two men of the Coastguard and one Customs man helped with the rescue with these five men were awarded the Board of Trade Bronze Medal as a result. Aside from Jarvis and Argeat these were Purslow and Robin Hayter of the Coastguard, and Customs Officer William Day. Notably, letters rescued from the wreck of the Jebba carry a premium to collectors of postal history.

Purslow was appointed Chief Petty Officer (Coast Guard) in 1910 and was still in service during the Great War. Soon after it began he was awarded the Royal Humane Society's Testimonial on Vellum for attempting to save the life of a drowning man at Lowestoft. Posted to President IV in 1916 he was awarded a British War Medal 1914-20 for his part in the war. Invalided from service on 11 September 1918 he died of bronchitis not long later; sold together with copied service papers and a copied newspaper extract relating to the wreck of the Jebba.

Further entitled to the British War Medal 1914-20 and Board of Trade Bronze Medal.

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Sold for
£1,000

Starting price
£210