Description
South Africa Medal 1877-79, no clasp, to an Able Seaman on H.M.S. Shah.
John Bagshaw, born in Birmingham 22nd May 1857. John Bagshaw appears on the 1871 as an Errand Boy in lodgings, aged 14 years, he then signed on to the Royal Navy for 10 years May 1875.
He was serving on H.M.S. Shah from 14th August 1876 to 31st October 1879 (see notes below). After his service on Shah he served briefly on other Ships and Establishments until he joined the crew of H.M.S. Hector 9th June 1883.
Whilst serving on HMS Hector John Bagshaw fell to his death from the rigging whilst HMS was anchored at Kirkwall Harbour in the Orkneys. Reports of his untimely death were published in the press. The following is the transcript from one of those articles. His papers record D.D. (Discharged Dead) – “fell from aloft”
Northman and Northern Counties Advertiser – Saturday 05 July 1884
FATAL ACCIDENT ON BOARD THE HECTOR. A sad accident occurred on board the Hector en Wednesday afternoon, by which one of the crew lost his life. It appears that John Bagshaw, A. B. a native of Birmingham, was ordered aloft to take down an iron hook from the main yard. He had lifted the hook on his shoulder, and in passing along the yard missed his footing and fell to the deck, receiving such fearful injuries to his chest that he died almost immediately. Bagshaw was a much respected member of the crew, and was one of those specially set apart for the Captain’s gig.
THE FUNERAL The funeral took place on Thursday morning, with naval honours. The boats with the body and firing and carrying parties landed at the pier at 7 o’clock, and proceed to the Cathedral Churchyard, the band of the 1st Orkney Artillery being in attendance and playing the “Dead March in Saul.” Notwithstanding the early hour, and the fact that it was thought the funeral would take place two hours later, large numbers of people lined the streets through which the promotion passed. The usual volleys were fired at the grave, which is close to that of Paymaster Roylston, buried there when the Channel Fleet were here some years ago. We understand the deceased was a Roman Catholic, and therefore the customary Church of England service was dispensed with. The company afterwards marched down street to a lively quickstep by the band, and embarked at the Corn Slip. In the course of the day Bandmaster Bain received a letter from the Captain of the Hector thanking him in very courteous terms for the services of the band.
By the time of his death he had already received this South Africa medal whilst serving on a previous ship H.M.S. Bacchante.
Peruvian Monitor Huascar
Notes – Service papers confirm Evans was on the crew of H.M.S. Shah during the naval action that is sometime referred to as the Battle of Pacocha, 29th May 1977 between the rebel-help Peruvian Monitor Huascar and the Royal Navy ships H.M.S. Shah and H.M.S. Amethyst. This engagement is historically known for being the launching by H.M.S. Shah of the first ever torpedo. This inauspicious event resulted in no damage and the torpedo being “out-run”, by the target, the Huascar.
HMS SHAH
During her time as flagship she also visited Pitcairn Island. On her voyage home in 1879, she called at St. Helena, where news was received of the British defeat at Isandhlwana. Shah was diverted to carry soldiers (one battalion of 88th Connaught Rangers and a Field Artillery battalion) to Durban in South Africa. Arriving 7th March 1879 she disembarked 16 Officers and 378 men of her crew at Durban, led by Commander John Brackenbury, R.N. to join the newly formed Naval Brigade.
Medal – South Africa Medal without clasp to SHAH. J. BAGSHAW. A.B. H.M.S.
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