An interesting anti-slave trade 1897 Benin Expedition, Boxer Rebellion, Great War service and Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct group awarded to Petty Officer A.F. May, Royal Navy, later Leading Boatman, H.M. Coast Guard who saw service aboard H.M.S. St. George in the Benin expedition against Chief Overiami between 6th February and 7th August 1897, he would then see service aboard H.M.S. Dido during the Boxer Rebellion in China, before transferring to the Coast Guard with whom he would receive his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 28th April 1908. Serving throughout the Great War, his medals would be sent to him at the Coast Guard Station at Harwich.
Group of 6: East and West Africa Medal 1887-1900, 1 Clasp: Benin 1897; (A.F. MAY. LG. SEAN. H.M.S. ST. GEORGE.) China Medal 1900, no clasp; (A.F. MAY. P.O.1. CL. H.M.S. DIDO.) 1914-1915 Star; (156797 A.F. MAY. P.O.1. R.N.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (156797 A.F. MAY. P.O.1. R.N.) Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, EVII,; (156797 A.F. MAY. BOATN. H.M. COAST GUARD.)
Condition: Good Very Fine
Arthur Frederick May was born in Deal and giving his trade as an Errand Boy joined the Royal Navy for 12 years service on 5th March 1893 having previously served as a Boy Sailor.
Entering service on 19th August 1890 he would be serving as a Boy 2nd Class aboard Impregnable, before being advanced to Boy 1st Class on 27th August 1891. He would be aboard Racer on his 18th Birthday when he would be made an Ordinary Seaman, before being advanced to Able Seaman on 1st October 1893.
After short periods ashore and aboard Cambridge he would be made a Leading Seaman whilst serving aboard Impregnable on 1st December 1896. He would transfer to H.M.S. St. George on 22nd January 1897 and would then take part in the operations on and off the coast of West Africa during the Benin Expedition against Chief Overiami who was involved in the slave trade and the practice of human sacrifice. These operations lasted from 6th February to 7th August 1897, and some 825 men of St George qualified for the Benin 1897 Clasp to the East and West Africa Medal.
After another short period ashore he would transfer to Dido on 10th May 1898, being advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 1st July 1898 and Petty Officer 1st Class on 13th May 1900, whilst aboard he would see service in China during the Boxer Rebellion.
Transferring to the Coast Guard on 1st October 1902 he would see service at Hull and in the Eastern area, he would be awarded his Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 28th April 1908 before being advanced to Leading Boatman whilst serving with the Scottish Coastguard on 26th February 1909.
He would later go on to see Great War Service with the Royal Navy and his Great War Medals would be sent to the Coast Guard at Harwich.
