| Looking more than a little like actor Bob Hoskins, this Petty Officer/Chief Stoker is a veteran of the Boxer Rebellion as indicated by the 1900 China War Medal visible next to his left shoulder. He has two other campaign medals. The center medal appears to be a single clasp Queen's South Africa Medal. The first medal is unfortunately obscured by his uniform but looks to have a straight bar suspender. The only three such medals to be issued to members of the Royal Navy prior to the Boer War/Queen's South Africa Medal were the Egypt Medal (1882-89) East & West Africa Medal (1892) and the Queen's Sudan Medal (1899). Since the Egypt Medal was always issued with the bronze Khedive's Star - which he is not wearing - that medal can probably be ruled out. Without knowing the ship on which he was stationed the precise identification of the first medal is impossible. Cabinet Photograph P. Aquilina - Photographer Strada S. Giovanni, 12, Valletta-Malta Post 1900 |