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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 73

Four: Chief Engineer R. Nicoll, Royal Navy

Crimea 1854-56, 2 clasps, Sebastopol, Azoff, unnamed as issued, clasps loose upon riband; Baltic 1855, unnamed as issued; Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian die, unnamed as issued; Turkey, Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjiedie, breast Badge, silver, gold and enamel, good very fine (4)

Sold together with a period photograph of the recipient wearing the Medals, besides a newspaper cutting which gives further detail after his death:

'Robert Nicoll, Royal Navy, Chief Inspector of Machinery, died at Clovelly, West Ferry, on Sunday, in his 81st year. The late gentleman was educated at Clark's Academy, Dundee, and served his apprenticeship with the late Mr Peter Borrie, engineer and ship-builder, whose premises at that time occupied the same site as the Trades Lane Calender does now. When in the employment of this firm he assisted in putting up the 30 ton crane at Earl Grey Dock in 1839.

Leaving Dundee, he went to Messrs. Napier's, on the Clyde, where he assisted at the fitting up of some of the first paddle steamers for Her Majesty's Navy. He joined the Navy in 1843, and during his long service he saw the British Navy in all its stages from the old wooden walls to the advent of ironclads and triple expansion engines. In 1847 he was promoted to the position of Chief Engineer, serving in the Antelope, Renown and other vessels. He spent five years on the West Coast of Africa, Bight of Benin, on a surveying expedition, and at the beginning of the Russian War his vessel was one of the Baltic Fleet that sailed with sealed orders to burn and destroy. He was Chief Engineer of the Miranda, which ship was the first to begin the bombardment of Sebastopol under Admiral Lyons, when the Captain, a son of the Admiral, was killed.

In 1865 he was promoted to the Victoria, Mediterranean Station, as Inspector of Machinery afloat. In 1877 he became Chief Inspector of Machinery - under Order in Council - and held this position until he retired after 34 1/2 years' active service. For his services, he received the following Medals and clasps:

Baltic, Crimea, Sebastopol, Azoff, and also the Turkish Medal. From the Sultan he also received the Order of the Knight Commander of the Medjidie Decoration...'

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Sold for
£700

Starting price
£210