World War Medals

Victorian & WW1 medals East West Africa Benin 1897 LSGC T Clarke Royal Marines. East & West Africa CAMPAIGN MEDAL Benin 1897 named Private Thomas A Clarke Royal Marines H. One of 80 East & West Africa M. Benin Expedition of 1897. Was a punative expedition. By a United Kingdom force of 1,200 under Admiral Sir Harry Rawson. In response to the ambush of a previous British-led party under Acting Consul General James Philips (which had left all but two men dead). Rawson’s troops captured, burned, and looted Benin City. Bringing to an end the west African Kingdom of Benin. As a result, much of the country’s art, including the Benin Bronzes, were relocated to Britain. Private T A Clarke Royal Marines Light Infantry served aboard HMS Magpie, he would have been one of the 1200 men involved in the punative action against Benin kingdom 1897. In February 1897, HMS “Magpie” was part of a squadron that landed a Naval Brigade in what is now Dahomey where the “city” of Benin was captured and destroyed. Royal Marine Clarke was one of only 80 on HMS Magpie awarded the medal with Benin 1897 Clasp. Was a 6-gun, “Readbreast class” composite screw gunboat. Built at Pembroke Dock, launched 15-Mar-1889, 165ft long, 31ft wide and displacing 805 tons. Armed with 6 x 4in guns. During this expedition HMS Magpie was commanded by Henry Venn Wood Elliot. He was promoted to the rank of Commander dated 25 May, 1897, for his services in the Benin Expedition. GREAT WAR 1914-18 Battleship HMS Majestic. Private Clark enrolled in the Royal Navy Fleet reserve 1904 and was recalled at outbreak of war 1914, serving on the battleship HMS Majestic. In early 1915, she was dispatched to the Mediterranean. For service in the Dardanelles Campaign. She participated in bombardments of Turkish. Forts and supported the Allied landings at Gallipoli. During the campaign 18th April 1915 she was involved in a Victoria Cross action, the rescue of British Submarine E-15. Sadly on 27 May 1915, she was torpedoed by a German U-Boat. U-21 at Cape Helles. Sinking with the loss of 49 men, he survived the sinking. He served next on two more battleships, HMS Revenge and later HMS Redoubtable, invalided out of service April 1918 and received the Great War trio, (1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medal) and later the Royal Navy Reserve Long Service Good Conduct medal March 1923. Copy service record included. Auctiva gets you noticed! Attention Sellers – Get Templates Image Hosting, Scheduling at Auctiva. Track Page Views With. Auctiva’s FREE Counter. The item “Victorian & WW1 medals East West Africa Benin 1897 LSGC T Clarke Royal Marines” is in sale since Thursday, May 03, 2018. 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
• Era: 1816-1913
• Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
• Conflict: Africa 1897 – WW1 1914-18
• Service: Marines
• Country/ Organization: Great Britain
• Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom