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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 408

Pair: Petty Officer J. W. T. Gunn, Royal Navy

Egypt 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (J. W. T. Gunn. Ord. H.M.S. "Invincible"); British War Medal 1914-20 (109423 J. W. T. Gunn. P.O. R.N.); pitting and light edge bruising to first, light contact wear overall, very fine (2)

John William Thomas Gunn was born at 22 Dock Street, St. Mary's, Southampton, on 11 July 1864, the son of John Gunn, a merchant seaman. Enlisting in the Royal Navy on 21 July 1879 as Boy Class II he gave his date of birth as 11 July 1863. Reaching his majority with ironclad Minotaur on 11 July 1881, year he was posted to the battleship Invincible the next year on 9 March.

Invincible was part of the British Squadron at Alexandria on the outbreak of the Anglo-Egyptian War under Admiral Seymour. Indeed, Seymour was aboard Invincible at the time as his flagship Alexandra had too deep a draft to enter the harbour. The Battleship was stationed opposite Fort Mex by the eastern edge of the Harbour and fired 140 9-inch shells and 131 6-inch shells into her along with 5,000 Nordenfelt rounds. Midway through the action she actually grounded herself upon a reef and had to be refloated with help from Condor before returning to the attack. The bombardment comprehensively silenced the shore defences and landing parties secured the city which would serve as the bridgehead for the British invasion during the war.

Gunn was posted to Cruiser in November 1882 but returned to Invincible in January 1883 and remained with her, being advanced Able Seaman that year and Leading Seaman on 1 January 1885. During that time the vessel provided men as part of Lord Beresford's Naval Brigade during the Suakin Expedition however Gunn was not amongst them for them major actions. This likely meant that he remained with the Squadron securing the vital port of Suakin, the important British toehold in the Sudan.

Posted to the Torpedo School Vernon in 1887 Gunn spent several years at training establishments, being advanced Petty Officer Class II with the Training Ship Rover on 1 December 1887. Further advanced Class I two years later in 1889 he was to be demoted several times over the next few years but managed to join the Royal Fleet Reserve as Petty Officer Class I on 22 November 1902.

The 1911 census lists him as a Postman living at 13 College Gardens, Brighton with his wife and son, however the outbreak of the Great War saw him return to service. Gunn rejoined as Petty Officer Class I and served ashore until 12 June 1919 when he was demobilised; sold together with copied service papers, census entries and a birth certificate.

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Sold for
£150

Starting price
£100