The magnificent G.C.B., G.C.V.O. group awarded to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles...

The magnificent G.C.B., G.C.V.O. group awarded to Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Frederick Hotham, Royal Navy, the only man known to have been eligible for two differently dated New Zealand campaign medals The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, G.C.B. (Military) Knight Grand Cross set of insignia, comprising sash badge, 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1887, and breast star, silver with gold and enamel appliqué centre; The Royal Victorian Order, G.C.V.O., Knight Grand Cross set of insignia, comprising sash badge and breast star, silver-gilt and enamels, both pieces unnumbered; Jubilee 1887, clasp, 1897, silver; Coronation 1902, silver; Coronation 1911; New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1860 to 1861 (Chas. Hotham. Midn. & Lieut. Naval Brigade 1860. 61. 63. 64.) officially engraved naming; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (Capt: C. F. Hotham. C.B. R.N. H.M.S. “Alexandra.”); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, unless otherwise described, very fine or better (10) £8,000-£10,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Douglas Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 1997; Alan Hall Collection, June 2000. Charles Hotham was born on 20 March 1843, a descendent of Baron Hotham (created 1621). He entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet aboard H.M.S. Forte on 14 February 1856, and served aboard James Watt and Cordelia from 1857 to 1860, receiving promotion to Midshipman in February 1858. He joined Pelorus from 27 December 1860 to December 1862, and whilst in this vessel he took part in the early actions of the Second Maori War in 1860-61. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 20 March 1862, and to Lieutenant on 17 February 1863 whilst at Excellent. His next appointment was to Curacoa on 20 April 1863, in home waters but this vessel was subsequently transferred to the Australian Station and was quickly engaged in action during the latter part of the Second Maori War. Hotham saw action during a frontal assault on 20 November 1863, on the Maori Redoubt at Ragariri by 90 seamen, armed with revolvers and cutlasses, from H.M. Ships Eclipse, Curacoa and Miranda, under Commander R. C. Mayne, where they were twice repulsed. During another immediate assault led by Commander Phillimore and Lieutenant Downes, First Lieutenant of Miranda, on 20 November 1863, Charles Hotham suffered a severe gun shot wound in the lower half of his right leg. The Surgeon reported ten days later than he was doing well. Hotham's conduct was favourably noticed by Commodore Wiseman on 30 November 1863 and was reported to the Admiralty (London Gazette 13 February 1864). Some time previously he had been sent in charge of a detached party of seamen to escort a Military Officer across mud flats in the rear of the enemy's position, 'for which services he was specially mentioned'. He was also Mentioned in Despatches on a further three occasions (see London Gazettes of 13 February 1864, 19 February 1864, and 15 July 1864). The Admiralty authorised his promotion to Commander as soon as possible commensurate with his completion of the correct amount of sea time by London Gazette 15 July 1864. He received his promotion to Commander on 19 April 1865 when he was only 23 years old, and after being paid off from Curacoa in July 1865, he was placed on half pay for two years. Hotham’s next appointment was the Command of Jaseur from 1867 to 1871, where he received promotion to Captain on 29 December 1871, aged 28 years. He subsequently Commanded Charybdis from 1877 to 1880, and served as Flag Captain of Alexandra from November 1881 to February 1883. In the latter vessel he was engaged during the Egyptian War in the attacks on the forts at Alexandria, and was publicly thanked for his services four days later on 15 July 1882. He was appointed Chief of Staff of the Naval Brigade, and by London Gazette dated 19 July 1882 was awarded the C.B., and Osmanieh 3rd Class. Hotham commanded Ruby from April 1885 to March 1886, and during 1887 he was appointed Assistant to the Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Review and was awarded the Jubilee Medal. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral on 6 January 1888, aged 45 years, and appointed a Lord of the Admiralty from January 1888 to December 1889. His next appointment was Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Station from 1890 to 1893, flying his flag aboard Warspite. He was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 1 September 1893 and awarded the K.C.B. on 24 May 1895. From December 1897 until July 1899 Hotham was Commander-in-Chief Sheerness, flying his flag aboard Wildfire. Following Promotion to Admiral on 13 January 1899, he was appointed Commander-in-Chief Portsmouth in October 1900, until promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 30 August 1903. At the Funeral of Queen Victoria on 2 February 1901, he was a supporter of the Royal Coffin, and was subsequently awarded the G.C.V.O. He was awarded the G.C.B. on 9 November 1902 for services at the Coronation of King Edward VII. Hotham died on 22 March 1925. He is the only man known to have been eligible for two differently dated New Zealand Campaign Medals, serving aboard Pelorus as a Midshipman for the 1860-61 Campaign, and aboard Curacoa as a Lieutenant R.N. for the 1863-64 battles. Men who fought in two separately dated actions were not entitled to a clasp (or a second differently dated Medal) for their additional participation. When such an instance occurred, as happened in this unique case, it was marked solely by extra details engraved on the edge of his 1860-61 dated Medal (i.e., 'Midn and Lieut Naval Brigade 1860-61-63-64'). He also received the rare distinction of being awarded all of the Jubilee and Coronation Medals issued between 1887 and 1911. Charles Hotham’s obituary given in The Times, 22 March 1925, states: ‘Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Hotham, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., the Senior Officer of his rank in the Royal Navy, whose death was announced, came of a distinguished naval family which has given many sons to the Imperial Forces. The eldest son of Captain John Hotham, his great Grandfather was a brother of the first Baron Hotham and thus the Admiral of the Fleet was related in the second and third degree to innumerable other naval officers. He gravitated to the Royal Navy almost as a matter of course, and won early advancement to the highest positions. He was a member of that important Board of the Admiralty which, under Lord George Hamilton, was responsible in 1889 for the great Naval Defence Act, which considerably raised the strength of the Fleet and placed the sea power of the Empire on a firm basis. Although he later held high Command afloat, and filled administrative posts ashore, it was not his good fortune to participate in the war work of the Fleet which he had helped to create. He had, however, the rare distinction of being appointed Commander in Chief on three occasions, China, the Nore and Portsmouth. ‘Charles Frederick Hotham was born on 20 March 1843 and entered the Royal Navy in 1856 when he was barely 13. He was not yet 20 when he was promoted to Lieutenant and, while serving in this rank in Curacoa, flag ship on the Australian Station, he was engaged in the New Zealand War of 1863 where, in Command of a party of small arm men, he repeatedly distinguished himself, and especially at the attack on Rangariri in November 1863. His conduct was favourably reported at the Admiralty and backed up by his previous good record. He obtained Commander's rank as soon as he had completed the required two years Lieutenant's service. From 1867 to 1870 he Commanded the Jaseur, screw gun vessel serving in the Mediterranean and on the West Cost of Africa and in December 1871 being ...