Lot 19
H.M.S. Himalaya
"Behind The Wire" - Medal and Militaria Sale | M25001
Auction: 17 September 2025 at 14:00 BST
Description
The South Africa Medal awarded to Stoker 2nd Class John Lathrope, H.M.S. Himalaya comprising South Africa Medal 1877-79, no clasp, (J. Lathrope. Stoker 2nd Cl: H.M.S. “Himalya”), lightly toned very fine (1)
John Lathrope was born in Ottery St Mary, Devon, on the 3rd of August 1857, he joined the Royal Navy for a period of ten years on the 16th of October 1877 aged 20. He served aboard H.M.S. Indus from the 16th of October 1877 to the 19th of December 1877, Himalaya from the 20th of December 1877 to the 12th of August 1880, Indus 13th of August 1880 to the 31st of August 1880, Achilles 1st of September 1880 to the 9th of December 1881 when he was Discharged to Shore as an Invalid.
HMS Himalaya was originally a P&O passenger steamer, purchased by the Navy in 1854 and put to use as a troopship until 1894; she was finally sunk during a German air attack on Portland Harbour in 1940.
During Lathrope’s time aboard her, on 18th October 1879, she collided with the Danish brig Anne Catherine, which was severely damaged; Himalaya towed her in to Gibraltar. On 30th November 1880, she was briefly aground at Queenstown, Cork, floating off in half an hour and resuming her departure undamaged.
Sold with Copy Service Papers and copy Medal Roll - 229 no clasp medals to ship
Provenance
Chelsea Military Antiques 2006
