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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 317

(x) The fine campaign pair awarded to Cooper B. Shepherd, Royal Navy, who served during the Challenger Expedition and was a fine artist - his drawings on that famous voyage were later published by a maritime museum

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (B. Shepherd, Cooper, H.M.S. Tyne.); Khedive's Star 1884-6, good very fine (2)

Benjamin Shepherd/Shephard served as a Cooper on H.M.S. Challenger (List 5/38, refers). He was born on 18 September 1841 at Brixton, Surrey and was a Cooper upon his joining the Royal Navy on 9 May 1862, volunteering for 10 years continuous service. He spent eight days 'on the run', when he deserted Chanticleer on 25 September 1868. Recaptured on 3 October, he was sentenced to seven weeks in jail and re-entered the Royal Navy from desertion on 30 October 1868. Thereafter his conduct improved and he subsequently earned three good conduct badges after some losses.

By the time of the Challenger expedition, he was described as 5 foot, 7½ inches tall, with light hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

An artist of some skill, he made a number of water colour paintings of his time onboard.; one half of his portfolio (34 sketches), happened to be re-discovered in 1968 in Boston, Massachusetts and this was subsequently published in 1972 by the Philadelphia Maritime Museum (copy included with Lot).

Shepherd went onto see active service aboard Tyne and was present at Suakin in 1885 (Medal & clasp, bronze Star). Having been presented with his Medal on that vessel, Shepherd was discharged dead on account of phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis) on 23 June 1887 at Albany, Western Australia; sold together with copied research and a copy of the book of his sketches.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£800

Starting price
£280