Description
Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, VR, Pte Richard Stevens, Royal Marines, HMS Nassau, served a full 21 years career. Present at Suakin 1885 and Tofrek in Egypt.
Officially engraved: “Richd Stevens. Pte. R.M. H.M.S. Nassau.”
Issued to him on 4th September 1876 whilst stationed on HMS Nassau, having a flawless record he maintained a “Very Good” and “Exemplary” rating of his conduct throughout his entire 21 year career.
A good early example of the “Narrow Suspension” Naval LSGC Medal, the Wide Suspension variety being discontinued barely a year earlier.
Just before his retirement close to finishing off his 21 years to pension, he was deployed to Egypt and Sudan where he served with the Royal Marine Light Infantry, during this time he earned the Egypt Medal with 2 bars for Suakin 1885 and Tofrek.
At the Battle of Tofrek on 22nd March 1885, the 1st Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry were present under Lt Col Ozzard, where they fought alongside the Army and some of them alongside the Royal Navy Gun Crews were shooting with their 4 new Naval Gardner Machine Guns.
RICHARD STEVENS
Richard Steven was born on 31st May 1846 in Witney, Oxford.
He first enlisted for service on 31st May 1865, the day of his 21st Birthday, at Reading by “Captain Wilson”.
He saw some deployments during his career:
Early into his service he served with the Royal Marine Battalion Ireland from 8th March 1867 to 10th June 1867.
HMS Urgent, 12th Nov 1867 to 4th April 1868
HMS Scout, 5th April 1868 – 17th August 1868.
HMS Sparrowhawk, 18th August 1868 – 5th October 1873, during this period stationed at British Columbia on the Pacific Station.
Notably whilst on board this ship at this time, His Excellency Frederick Seymour, the Governor of British Columbia died on board the ship on 12th June 1869 at Bella Coola, BC of Typhoid Asthenia.
HMS Scyllla, 6th October 1872 – 29th December 1872
HMS Zealous, 30th December 1872 – 13th April 1873.
HMS Tamar, 4th October 1873 – 16th October 1873
HMS Hibernia, 17th October 1873 – 24th October 1873
HMS Nassau, 25th October 1873 – 25th Sept 1877.
Returned to Portsmouth Division from 1877 – 1884
Embarked for the Royal Marine Battalion “Egypt” from 7th October 1884 – 16th May 1885, seeing much fighting in Egypt and Sudan.
Returned back to Plymouth, to be discharged on 1st June 1886, discharged due to length of service having finished off a full 21 years of service.
Following his discharge he went on to live a long life, and is noted on the 1911 Census as a Naval Pensioner in and 1921 Census some years later aged 75 living in Totton, Eling Hampshire with his wife Annie.
