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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 443

(x) Five: Chief Boatswain W. G. Holliday, Royal Navy

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin River 1894 (W. G. Holliday, Lg. Sean, H.M.S. Phoebe.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (W. G. Holliday, P.O.1. Cl., H.M.S. Dwarf.); 1914-15 Star (Bosn. W. G. Holliday, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Ch. Bosn. W. G. Holliday. R.N.), good very fine (5)

Walter George Holliday was born on 20 October 1871 at Stratford, Essex and was an errand-boy upon his enlistment in the Royal Navy on 21 October 1886. He was serving aboard Anson when the passenger steamer Utopia collided with her on 17 March 1891. The ram on the Anson tore a 5m hole below the waterline of Utopia. Filling quickly and with around 880 passengers attempting to pile into the lifeboats, she suddenly listed to 70 degrees, crushing and sinking the lifeboats. Some 562 lives were lost. Having witnessed the tragic incident, it seems Holliday would have been involved in the rescue and investigation which followed.

Either way, he joined the books of Phoebe on 1 December 1892. Having been advanced Leading Seaman on 28 March 1894, he was present during the Benin River expedition, August-September 1894 (Medal & clasp).

Posted to the gunboat Dwarf on 1 April 1902, he then saw active service off the coast of South Africa (Medal). Confirmed Boatswain in October 1902, he was appointed to the Coastguard at the end of the decade. Boatswain in Command of the Lifeboat Station at Queenstown from 5 March 1912, Holliday joined the battleship Benbow on 17 April 1914. He served aboard her during the Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. Holliday ended his career as a Chief Boatswain and was retired on 12 August 1922. Living in Devonport, he died in 1938; sold together with copied Service Record and research.

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Sold for
£650

Starting price
£240