Description
Egypt Medal, dated 1882, no bar, Sailmakers Crew W. Richards, HMS Agincourt, Royal Navy, served 10 years in the Navy and 14 in the Coast Guard, becoming a Commissioned Boatman.
Officially engraved: “W. Richards Sailmrs Crew. H.M.S. ‘Agincourt’ “ Contact marking over a long career.
Rare to find named to a Sailmaking rating.
William Richard was born on 11th September 1854 in Newlyn Paul, Penzance, Cornwall.
On the day of his 16th Birthday, with his trade listed simply as “Sea” he joined the Royal Navy on 11th September 1872 for 10 years.
He began his service on HMS Daphne on 1st January 1872 as Boy 1st Class and was rated as a Bugler Boy.
He first became a part of the Sailmaker’s Crew on HMS Asia on 6th June 1876 which he would served as for the remainder of his 10 years service.
Through his 10 years he served on board in this order, HMS Daphne, HMS Glasgow, Duke of Wellington, Orontes, Asia, Spartan, Asia, Agincourt, Duke of Wellington, Indus, Royal Adelaide, Indus, Repulse.
His services in the Egypt and Sudan war period:
HMS Agincourt, 19th Oct 1880 – 18th Sept 1882
HMS Duke of Wellington 19th Sept 1882 – 16th Oct 1882
HMS Indus, 17th Oct 1882 – 6th Dec 1882”
HMS Royal Adelaide, 7th Dec 1882 – 13th Jan 1883”
HMS Repulse, 8th March 1883 – 19th March 1883”
As his service was nearing an end, he chose to transfer over to the Coast Guard for further service.
He served as a Boatman on board HMS repulse, then Rupert and Audacious, where he was promoted to Commissioned Boatman on 16th July 1890.
He saw the rest of his service as a Commissioned Boatman from 1890 on the Tynemouth Station until 10th June 1897, being discharged to his pension.
