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Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 129

(x) China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (W. J. Davison, A.B. H.M.S. Centurion.), one minor edge bruise and some minor scratching to obverse but otherwise very fine

William John Davison was born on 24 April 1876 at Bethnal Green, Middlesex. Before enlisting into the Royal Navy, he worked as a carver. At aged 15 from August 1891, Davison served as a Boy 2nd Class first aboard H.M.S. Impregnable and then aboard the H.M.S. Ganges. He was then promoted to a Boy 1st Class in September 1892 and served aboard H.M.S. Ganges, Impregnable, Melampus, Vivid I, Dreadnought and Bruiser. On 24 April 1894, his 18th birthday, he was immediately promoted to Ordinary Seaman upon Bruiser. Just under one year later in July 1894, he was then promoted to Able Seaman, the rank he remained for the rest of his military career. From February 1897 - September 1901, Davison served upon H.M.S. Centurion and saw action at the Boxer Rebellion, an uprising in northern China by the 'Boxers' who were an underground, secret society who practised martial arts (hence the nickname 'Boxers') who wished to drive all foreigners out of China. In the war, H.M.S. Centurion partook in Admiral Edward Seymour's failed attempts to relieve the besieged International Legations in Peking (modern-day Beijing). Captain John Jellicoe assumed command of Centurion on 12 February 1898 and served as Seymour's flag-captain during the expedition. Directly after this expedition, his final ship was H.M.S. Pembroke.

Davison then enlisted into the Royal Fleet Reserve on the 2 February 1902, then again on 30 June 1906, then for a third time on 2 September 1911. Upon the outbreak of the First World War, Davison was serving on H.M.S. Mars before transferring to H.M.S Royal Arthur in January 1915 until March 1918. He finished his war service in March 1919 at H.M.S. Pembroke I. He was awarded a Long Service Medal on 13 July 1921 and was further entitled to British War and Victory medals.

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Estimate

Starting price
£110