A fine Egypt and Sudan Mahdi War 1884 and Great War long service group awarded to Petty Officer 2nd Class H. Cluitt, Royal Navy. Cluitt, whose surname is also spelt Cluett, came from Sherborne, Dorset, and originally joined the navy in 1881, seeing service aboard the corvette Euryalus when in support of the operations off Sudan during the Mahdi War in 1884. He spent a period of time on the China Station during the late 1880’s to 1890’s, and was then aboard the destroyer Ardent when awarded the long service medal in May 1895, being pensioned in 1903, he then settled at Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Recalled for the Great War, he saw service aboard the Admiralty auxiliary vessel Crown of Galicia between August 1914 and January 1915, and then with other vessels during the war including the armed boarding steamer Stephen Furness.
Group of 6: Egypt Medal 1882-1889, reverse undated, no clasp, with impressed naming; (H. CLUETT, ORD, H.M.S. EURYALUS.); 1914-1915 Star; (115065, H. CLUITT. P.O.2, R.N.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (115065 H. CLUITT. P.O.2 R.N.); Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Victoria narrow suspension; (HARRY CLUITT, A.B., H.M.S. ARDENT); Khedive’s Star, undated obverse.
Condition: light contact pitting to first, overall Good Very Fine.
Harry Cluitt, surname also spelt Cluett, was born on 15th January 1865 in Sherborne, Dorset, and then joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class (Portsmouth No.115065) with St Vincent from 1st January 1881, before being posted to the corvette Euryalus from 5th December 1882, and being rated as an Ordinary Seaman on 1st March 1883. With Euryalus he saw service in support of the operations off Sudan during the Mahdi War in 1884, and was posted off this ship on 24th July 1885. Cluitt was serving with the battleship Monarch when he was rated as an Able Seaman on 1st December 1885.
In March 1888 he joined the cruiser Imperieuse, and saw service aboard her out on the China Station, where she was the flagship. Remaining with her through to March 1891, during this period he also saw service on and off aboard the despatch vessel Alacrity, which was also stationed out there. Cuitt was aboard the destroyer Ardent in home waters when he was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 6th May 1895, and was shortly afterwards posted off her, therefore missing her commission in the Mediterranean. He was aboard the despatch vessel Enchantress when advanced to Leading Seaman on 1st November 1898. Serving aboard the battleship Majestic when promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 1st July 1899, he was then pensioned ashore on 5th February 1903. He went on to work as a mason, and as of 1911 was living in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, and shown as a naval pensioner and general labourer. He was also married to Ada Cluitt.
On the outbreak of the Great War he was recalled for service as a Petty Officer 2nd Class with Victory I on 2nd August 1914, and was then posted aboard the requisitioned merchant vessel Crown of Galicia from 12th August 1914, and saw service aboard her as an auxiliary vessel through to 17th January 1915, before joining the armed boarding steamer Stephen Furness from 20th February 1915. Cluitt’s period of transfers during the remainder of 1915 and through to April 1916 are obscured in his naval records, but he was then posted back to Victory I from 9th April 1917, and ultimately joined Fisgard from 13th August 1918, being discharged ashore on 16th September 1919. Confirmed as his full entitlement.
