CHINA WAR MEDAL 1900
(and original miniature)
(Relief of Pekin)
(*also entitled to Taku Forts)
To:
Surgeon E.D. MACNAMARA R.N. H.M.S. ENDYMION.
(Also served in WW1 with the Admiralty and R.A.M.C.)
Entitled to 1914-15 Star Trio.
A very interesting medal to a long serving Doctor and Surgeon.
Dr Eric Danvers Macnamara was born in 1870 and educated at Peterhouse College, Cambridge. A keen sportsman, he was a member of the Cambridge Rowing team and competed in the famous Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race on three occassions. Also studied at Westminster Hospital. Becoming qualified in 1895 he joined the medical service of the Royal Navy in 1897.
He served in HMS ENDYMION at the Relief of Pekin, receiving the medal with two claps* (*see note below).
He did not, however find that the peace-time routine of the naval service provided him with sufficient outlet for his energies and retired from the R.N. in 1902.
He was appointed Medical Registrar at Westminster Hospital, and in 1904 he became Assistant Physician, a post which he held until 1912, acting also as the Dean of the Medical School for some time. He took the M.D. course at Cambridge University in 1908,and a few years later he was elected F.R.C.P.. In 1912 he resigned his position at Westminster and went to Charing Cross Hospital, where he was Physician for Mental Diseases and a lecturer in the Medical School.
He was a member of the lecturing staff at Bethlem Hospital. Since 1904 he had been Physician to the West End Hospital for Nervous Diseases. He was also on the staff of the Paddington Green Children's Hospital.
He had acted as examiner to the University of London and the Conjoint Board. During The Great War he served in the Medical Department of the Admiralty and in the R.A.M.C as Major- Sergeon in HOSPITAL SHIP "OXFORDSHIRE" . Serving in that ship in France, Egypt and The Dardanelles.
H.S.OXFORDSHIRE was built in 1912 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with a tonnage of 8648grt, a length of 474ft 7in, a beam of 55ft 4in and a service speed of 15.5 knots. Launched on 15th June 1912 and completed on 17th September she was the company's last ship built with a counter stern. On 2nd August 1914 she was the first ship to be requisitioned for war service two days prior to the outbreak. En-route from Liverpool to London she was off the Isle of Wight and was ordered into Tilbury where she was converted into Naval Hospital Ship No.1 with 562 beds. Commissioned on 11th August she was sent to Scapa Flow as a base ship on 25th September but proved to be too large for the needs at the time and subsequently moved to the English Channel to undertake army hospital work. In April 1915 she was deployed as the base hospital ship at Mudros and was present during the ANZAC withdrawal at the Dardenelles, bringing off the wounded in her own boats. The victorious Turks respected the red cross and did not fire on them. She served in the Persian Gulf and German East Africa during December 1916 and in 1918 as a shuttle hospital ship in the English Channel. Decommissioned on 24th March 1919 she had made 235 voyages, steamed 172,000 miles without a single breakdown and carried 50,000 wounded, the highest of any hospital ship in the war
M.I.C. confirms that he is entitled to a 1914-15 Trio and a Silver War Badge 14.9.18 (LG 3.9.19) . (Note* and also apparently the TAKU FORTS clasp to the CHINA WAR MEDAL 1900)
In 1904 he married Frances Mary, daughter of Dr. W. Simpson Craig, of Bedford, and sister of the late Sir Maurice Craig. Dr Macnamara died on August 24th 1934, aged 64, and is survived by his wife and two sons. His literary work chiefly consisted of articles in dictionaries adn medical text-books. He was of tall and handsome physique. His manner was dignified and might, to a stranger, have produced an impression of reserve. But he was the most delightful of companions, and was possessed of a keen sense of humour. His was a high spirit, and to many a friend and colleague his death brought a real sense of loss.
Both the China War Medal and the original miniature are in
"GEM MINT STATE" condition with superb original tone.
Both medals are on their original ribbons and pins.
A Very Rare "two clasp" medal to a Military Surgeon.
-SOLD-
(MEDICAL MEDALS * If you collect medals to medical personnel please see our ARMY / "Victorian Army Groups" section for a superb "fighting Doctor" Afganistan and Indian Mutiny pair)