Frederick William Stevens was born in Kingstown, Dublin, on 3 November 1874, and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker Second Class on 13 March 1894. He served in H. Philomel from 1 December 1894 to 17 March 1897, and was promoted Stoker on 1 August 1896. Advanced Stoker Petty Officer on 1 July 1906, he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 5 May 1909. Start of WW1 was serving aboard HMS Bellona, a sout cruiser. Admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital at Plymouth as a dangerous lunatic on 31 March 1915, he was invalided out of the service to pension on 5 April of that year. Pension card shows he was discharged from asylum in April 1917. (supplied with medal roll extracts and service record). HMS Philomel Ashanti Benin 1897 WW1 trio LS&GC medal SPO Stevens RN from Dublin. East & West Africa CAMPAIGN MEDAL 1897 Benin, HMS Philomel. (supplied with medal roll extracts and service record) HMS Philomel – Cruiser In mid 1892 Philomel deployed to the Cape of Good Hope Station, where it would spend the, next six years. This punitive expedition resulted from several men being killed or wounded when a Government boat was fired upon in August. Captain Charles Campbell of Philomel led one detachment of seamen in an attack on the principal town, where there was no opposition but 106 guns were captured, as was the chiefs treasury. Recommissioning on station in August 1894, Philomel participated in the M wele Expedition in August 1895 and the Bombardment of Zanzibar in August the following year. The latter resulted from a prince trying to usurp the throne on the death of the Sultan. Britain, with the acquiescence of the other European embassies, supported the true heir. After 37 minutes of bombardment of the Sultans palace, the rebels left and the rightful successor was proclaimed. In January 1897 the British Consul General in Niger was attacked and the following month an expedition was mounted to Benin to arrest those responsible. Personnel from Philomel formed part of the Naval Brigade and during the attack the ships Captain and the Gunner were wounded. Plundered Ivory, Bronzes, sculptures etc Most of the plunder from the city was retained by the expedition with some 2,500 (official figures) religious artefacts, Benin visual history, mnemonics and artworks being sent to England. The British Admiralty confiscated and auctioned off the war booty to defray the costs of the Expedition. The expected revenue from the expedition was discussed already before Phillips set out on his ill-fated journey to the city of Benin in 1896. In a letter to Lord Salisbury, the British Foreign Secretary, Phillips requested approval to invade Benin and depose the Oba, adding the following footnote: I would add that I have reason to hope that sufficient ivory would be found in the King’s house to pay the expenses incurred in removing the King from his stool. European Modernist movement pictures influenced by Benin African art- including Picasso The dispersal of the Benin art to museums around the world catalysed the beginnings of a long and slow European reassessment of the value of West African art. The Benin art was copied and the style integrated into the art of many European artists and thus had a strong influence on the early formation of modernism in Europe. King of Benin The King of Benin was eventually captured by the British consul-general, Ralph Moor. He was deposed and sent to live out his days in Calabar. He died in 1914. HMS Bellona – Bodicea class scout cruiser He served at the start of WW1 with HMS Bellona was one of two Boadicea-class scout cruisers built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. Bellona spent the bulk of World War I with that squadron, He transferred to shore establishment Vivid II January 1915 but invalided to Insane assylum in April 1915. Pension record card shows he was discharged from hospital April 1917. Create your brand with Auctiva’s. Attention Sellers – Get Templates Image Hosting, Scheduling at Auctiva. Track Page Views With. Auctiva’s FREE Counter. The item “Victorian HMS Philomel Ashanti Benin 1897 WW1 LS&GC medal SPO Stevens RN Dublin” is in sale since Friday, July 23, 2021. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\19th Century (1800-1899)\Medals/ Ribbons”. The seller is “theonlineauctionsale” and is located in England. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Type: Medals & Ribbons
- Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
- Conflict: East & West Africa Benin 1897
- Era: 1816-1913
- Country/ Organization: United Kingdom
- Time Period: 19th Century (1800-1899)
- Theme: Militaria
- Service: Navy
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom
