Description
Egypt Medal, dated 1882, British War Medal, Khedive’s Star, 1882, Commanders Servant G.H. Chivers, HMS Thalia during 1882, a career Domestic rating who returned in 1914 from retirement.
Also with his sons named silver hallmarked Freemasonry medal
Very unusual rating on his Egypt Medal
Egypt officially engraved: “G. CHIVERS. COMrs SVt H.M.S. Thalia.” Commander’s Servant
BWM officially impressed: “11138 G.H. Chivers O.S.1. R.N.” Officers Steward 1st Class
Khedives Star unnamed
Trio swing mounted for wear on silk ribbons, which are frayed over the years.
Freemasonry medal engraved on reverse and hallmarked silver: “Bro F.O.H. Chivers No 2579” lacking reverse brooch pin.
Freemasons Medal is his son, Frank Oliver Harrison Chivers. When his father George retired he lived with his son in Lewisham and their family as of 1939.
Officers Steward 1st Class George Henry Chivers, was born on 18th February 1862 in Tonbridge, Kent.
Joined the Royal Navy as a Domestic 2nd Class on 19th December 1879.
At this time, he was actually only 17 years old, but had bumped up his age by 2 years to presumably get his increased Mans Salary stating he was instead born during 1860.
Served on HMS Thalia as a D2C from 24th July 1882 – 13th December 1882.
During this time he earned this Egypt Medal, being rated as the Commander’s Servant, during the Egyptian Campaign of 1882 as they fought in the Urabi Revolt followed by the British Conquest of Egypt.
At the time her commanding Officer was Captain John William Brackenbury, so it seems that Chivers was his steward.
On 14th December 1882 he transferred over to HMS Himalaya for 7 years until 13th December 1889.
He married during this time on 18th August 1888 to Maria Louisa Harrison whilst he was the Ward Room Steward of HMS Himalaya.
During this time she had just been commissioned on 7th Dec 1882 for service and sent out on a long duty as a troopship.
On April 1886 she was on Torpedo Service and on 6th April 1886 at Gibraltar, leaving for Malta and Alexandria.
He saw further service as a Domestic 1st Class to finish his service on HMS Firequeen on 16th October 1903.
After at least 10 years of retirement, he returned to service for the Great War, serving at HMS Pembroke I from 2nd August 1914 to 30th September 1914, as an Officers Steward 1st Class.
He was discharged to shore as unfit on 30th September 1914, and earned the British War Medal for his services. A 32 year span between earning the Egypt Medal and BWM.
He lived many more years, before he died at Lewisham at the age of 81, during 1943.
The Masonry Medal belongs to his son, Francis Oliver Harrison Chivers, born on 20th April 1893.
In 1939, he lived at 12 Helder Grove, Hither Green, Lewisham, London, with his wife, child and his retired father George.
Francis was a Works Foreman for Electrical and Aircraft Accessories.
