A Scottish Chief Engineers Boxer Rebellion and Great War 'Prisoner of War' campaign medal group of 3: Chief Engineer David Younger Muir, late British India Steam Navigation Company and Merchant Navy

- Transport Medal 1899-1902. With clasp 'China 1900' (D. Y. Muir.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (David Y. Muir)
- Mercantile Marine War Service Medal (David Y. Muir)

Prisoner-of-War: Chief Engineer David Younger Muir, is confirmed being a Prisoner-of-War in Germany following the enemy U-Boat (U-65 Captain Hermann von Fischel torpedo attack and sinking of the recipients Merchant vessel S.S. Umaria in the Mediterranean on,

Following the attack upon (during which 5 of the crew were killed) and sinking of the S.S. Umaria on, 1917, off the coat of Italy, Chief Engineer Muir was kept aboard the U-Boat U-65 for 3 x weeks until being landed on terra-firma. David was subsequently incarcerated for the duration of the war at the Offizierlager's (Officers Prisoner-of-War Camps) located at Karlsruhe (Baden-Wurttemberg region) and at Furtenberg (Hamburg-Altona region) Prisoner of War Camp in Germany - see the attached image for the recipient wearing his Merchant Navy uniform, standing on the verandah of the 'Schloss' at Furstenberg Offizierlager, while held as a Prisoner of War in Germany 1917-18

S.S.Umaria Sinking: The 'Umaria', built by A. Stephen & Sons, Ltd., Glasgow, Scotland, in 1914, was at the time of her loss owned by the British India Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. She was a British steamer of 5.317 tons. On May 26th, 1917, Umaria, on a voyage from Calcutta to U.K. with general cargo, was sunk by the German submarine U-65 (Hermann von Fischel), 20 miles SWxS Policastro. 5 x crew-members were lost in the attack and subsequent sinking

Medals and clasp verification: All 3 x medals and clasp 'China 1900', confirmed as entitled per the respective Admiralty medal roll and Board of Trade Medal Index Cards cited below:

- Transport Medal 'China 1900': ADM 171/46, sailed on the transport 'S.S. Zamania', per Engineers list British India Steam Lines (British India Steam Navigation Company)
- British War Medal. Silver issue: BT 351/1/101470, index card shows medals sent to Minicoy, Whitehills Avenue, Stepps, Glasgow
- Mercantile Marine War Service Medal: BT 351/1/101470 index card shows medals sent to Minicoy, Whitehills Avenue, Stepps, Glasgow

The recipient name 'David Y Muir' is confirmed as a unique name in the Board of Trade medal index cards for the British War Medals & Mercantile Marine War Service Medal

The below following Scottish newspaper obituary, published in 1954, is quoted in full (inclusive of errors from a family-tree on the Ancestry genealogical website:

Quote,

THE LATE MR. MUIR

We regret to announce the death at Minicoy, Whitehill Avenue, Stepps, on 28th February, 1951. of David Younger Muir at the age of 76.

When Mr. Muir came to Stepps in 1906 there were only four houses in Whitehill Avenue, including Minicoy, which was built for him.

Mrs. Muir, then Christine Hislop, went out to Singapore in 1902, and was married in St. Andrew's Church, there. Mr. Muir sailed the seven seas, being with the British Indian Steam Navigation Company for 33 years. During the 1914-18 war his ship, the Gamaria (sic), was sunk in the Mediterranean by a German submarine. After being aboard the German submarine for 3 weeks, he was taken to Germany where he remained a prisoner of war until 1918. After a years holiday he returned to India where he continued until he retired in 1926. He was a linguist and could speak in, Gaelic, French, German and Hindustani.

A keen amateur gardener, he specialized in growing roses which he grew to perfection. He was of quiet and unassuming nature and will be missed in the village. Mr. Muir was a faithful member of St. Andrews Church. He leaves behind Mrs. Muir, whose father was a well known member of Glasgow Corporation Water Department, and two daughters who are both married, one to Mr. S.R. Urquhart, Aberdeen, and late of Singapore, and the other to Mr. H.R. Reid, a well known Glasgow business man and a partner of Robert Corbet & Son, Building Contractors. The funeral took place to Riddrie Park Cemetery on 3rd March, and was conducted by Rev. A.C. Scobie. M.A.

Unquote

The medals all retaining good clean lengths of the original silk ribands

Condition: About EF

Code: 24566