Description
Egypt Medal, dated 1882, no bar, Robert Joseph Steele, A.B. HMS Achilles, later a Chief Boatman in the Coast Guard and returned from retirement for WW1 service.
Officially engraved: R. Steele. A.B. H.M.S. “Achilles”, Star contact marking over a long career, it was almost 40 years since he first entered the Navy when he returned during WW1.
Total Navy Service: 15 years including WW1, Coast Guard Service: 16 years.
His Obituary during 1924:
Steele – At 35 Bon-Accord Street, Aberdeen, on the 27th August, Robert J. Steele, Late R.N., aged 63 years.
Funeral on Saturday, 30th Inst, at 2.30. PM, to Allenvale Cemetery, All friends respectfully invited.
Robert Joseph Steele was born on 4th October 1860 in Crumlin, County Antrim, Ireland.
He first entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aged 15 on 22nd February 1876, aboard HMS Iron Duke.
Having been through 7 ships in 2 years he finally became an Ordinary Seaman on his 18th Birthday onboard HMS Arab, 4th October 1878.
He was on board HMS Achilles from 4th September 1880 until 22nd December 1882 when he earned this medal.
He saw further service on the Excellent, Lord Warden, Dolphin, Temeriare and the Neptune before transferring to the Coast Guard as a Boatman on 1st January 1888 at Port Isaac.
He would then spend the next 15 years or so on various stations throughout Scotland with the Coast Guard.
Promoted to Commissioned Boatman at Leith, 6th April 1894.
Promoted to Chief Boatman, 14th May 1900, Portsoy Scotland
Reduced to Commissioned Boatman on 6th February 1901.
He finished off his service in the South of Ireland from June 1903 until 13th February 1904 when he finally enrolled for the Royal Fleet Reserve on 6th August 1904.
Discharged from the Fleet Reserve on 3rd October 1910 due to Age as he turned 50 years old.
However he was brought back into service on 2nd August 1914 at HMS Columbine as a Petty Officer 2nd Class, becoming Petty Officer 1st Class (Original System) on 18th October 1916.
Through the war he served at HMS Columbine through 1914, Pembroke I from 10th December 1914 until 19th July 1917 before being finally demobilised.
