A 'Matelot's' South African & Great War campaign medal group of 3: Able Seaman Henry William Pursell, H.M.S. Calypso, late H.M.S. Barrosa, Royal Navy

- QSA Medal. Silver 'Cape Colony' (H. W. Pursell, A.B. HMS Barrosa)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (188513 H. W. Pursell. A.B. R.N.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (188513 H. W. Pursell. A.B. R.N.)

Medals and clasp verification: All medals and clasp confirmed as the recipients full medal entitlement per the published Royal Navy medal rolls, and extant service sheet:

- QSA Medal & clasp: Ref ADM 171/53. Sent 8 June 1904, H.M.S. Vengeance
- British War Medal silver issue: Reference ADM 171/112
- Interallied Victory Medal: Reference ADM 171/112

Henry William Pursell, only son & of Henry 'Harry' Pursell (a Railway Signalman) & Rosa Pursell (nee Gray) was a native of the parish of, St Albans, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England, where he was born on, 17 March 1879. Henry lied about his age (he gave the date, 2 March 1881) when he joined the Royal Navy on, 22 April 1896, at which time he was mustered aboard, H.M.S. Impregnable, with the 'Rate' of Boy 2nd Class. Prior to joining the Royal Navy, Henry, claimed to have been employed as an 'Office Boy'. Advanced to Boy 1st class in February 1897, he served aboard, H.M.S. Barrosa, September 1898 to August 1899, being advanced to Ordinary Seaman in, March 1899, and, following a brief period aboard, H.M.S. Doris, between August to September 1899, he re-joined, H.M.S. Barrosa, on 5 September 1899. He was advanced to Able Seaman on, 13 February 1900, and remained aboard H.M.S. Barrosa, until, 24 May 1901. During the South African War, Henry, fell-foul of the Naval authorities, when on, 31 December 1900, his 'Character' dropped to 'Good' only, with his transgressions landing him '5 days in the Cells'. His indifference to discipline raised its spectre again when on 31 December 1902, his character was graded only as 'Fair'

Henry married Edith Abis Maud Harbridge, at London, on, 13 May 1905, at Willesden, Middlesex, England. He was discharged to shore by purchase on 8 December 1905, joining the Royal Fleet Reserve the following day. Henry was discharged ‘time expired’ from the Royal Fleet Reserve, on, 1 March 1911. After leaving the Royal Navy, Henry and his wife located to, Hampstead, London, England, where he was employed as a Sewing Machine Agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company Ltd. Henry William Pursell is recorded as having died at, London, England, on, 18 August 1958

Henry re-joined the Royal Navy, on, 26 April 1917 and subsequently served aboard H.M.S. Calypso, between, 9 June 1917 to 16 December 1918, including being present at the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight. Henry was finally demobilised from the Royal Navy on ,21 March 1919

H.M.S. Calypso: (D61) was a C class cruiser of the Caledon sub-class of the Royal Navy, launched in 1917. Built by Hawthorn Leslie and Company. Her keel was laid down in February 1916 and she was completed in June 1917. Calypso was involved in the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight on 17 November 1917, when she and her sister ship Caledon were part of the force that intercepted German minesweepers near the German coast. During the battle, Calypso's bridge was struck by a 5.9 in (150 mm) shell which killed all personnel on the bridge including the captain, and causing the accidental firing of a ready torpedo

The service sheet for Henry Pursell is extant, and is held & accessible at The National Archives

The medals are display mounted on card, in the court style

Reference 'British Battles & Medals '(Volume VII, 2006) a total of 31 x QSA medals with single clasp to H.M.S. Barrosa (not all of which were issued, with several returned & or forfeited)

Scarce QSA medal with clasp to H.M.S. Barrosa

Condition: GVF

Code: 22316