The impressive K.C.B, C.V.O. group of ten awarded to Admiral Sir Richard “Crush-me...

The impressive K.C.B, C.V.O. group of ten awarded to Admiral Sir Richard “Crush-me Dick” Poore, Bt., Royal Navy, who was mentioned for gallantry in action with the Naval Brigade against the Malays in Perak, and for distinguished services with the Armoured Train in Egypt; he was later Commander-in-Chief at the Nore 1911-15 The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, K.C.B. (Military) Knight Commander’s set of insignia, comprising neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, and breast star, silver with gold and enamel appliqué centre, fitted with gold pin for wearing; The Royal Victorian Order, C.V.O., Commander’s, neck badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamels, the reverse officially numbered ‘C274’; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Perak (Sub. Lieutt. Richd. Poore. R.N. H.M.S. “Philomel”); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 2 clasps, Alexandria 11th July, The Nile 1884-85 (Lieut: R. Poore, R.N, H.M.S. “Invincible”); British War Medal 1914-20 (Adml. Sir R. Poore.); Coronation 1902, silver; Ottoman Empire, Order of the Medjidie, 4th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, silver-gilt, gold and enamels; Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, these last seven on original ‘Cavalry’ style mounting bar as worn; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Grand Officer, silver breast star; Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown set of insignia, comprising sash badge, gold and enamels, and breast star by Cravanzola, Roma, silver, gold and enamels, generally good very fine or better (13) £12,000-£16,000 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Richard Poore was born on 7 July 1853, and joined the Navy as a Cadet in December 1866. As Sub-Lieutenant of the Philomel, he served with the Naval Brigade during operations against the Malays in the Straits of Malacca in 1875-76, attached to the Larut Field Force, comprising 7 officers and 98 seamen and marines. During the advance of this force from the mouth of the Larut to Qualla Kangsa, a detachment of the troops was attacked by a concealed body of Malays and would have been cut to pieces but for the extreme gallantry by shown by the seamen, who had been formed up as a guard for Brigadier-General Ross, in command of the Field Force. Lieutenant Wood, Sub-Lieutenant Poore, and seamen Henry Thompson, Harry Bennett and David Sloper gained special commendation for their bravery in this affair (all three seamen being awarded the CGM, the only such awards for this campaign). Poore was specially promoted to Lieutenant for his services during this campaign. Poore was Lieutenant of Invincible at the bombardment of Alexandria, 11 July 1882, where he had the honour of firing the last shot, as described by Frank Scudamore in his chapter on Lord Kitchener from A Sheaf of Memories: “The signal to cease fire had been made from the Flag-ship, and was, of course, instantly obeyed; but it appears that on the Invincible was a piece of ordnance – an early type of quick-firer (I believe) – which when once prepared for action could not be unloaded without considerable danger to its gun-crew. “Gunnery Jack” who had to deal with this weapon was Lieutenant Richard Poore - now Admiral Sir Richard Poore, Bart. (retired), but then affectionately known in the Service as “Crush-me Dick.” He accordingly asked and received permission to fire his piece. Every ship in the fleet, of course, had read the signal, and all glasses were braqués on the fort, which was Poore’s objective. “ ‘Crush-me,’” said Kitchener, “laid his gun well and true, and the shell sped. An excellent shot – it landed plump in the centre of the upper works. An immense cloud of dust and debris darkened the air for a moment. But when this cleared away, an old woman rushed frantically from an outhouse and chased in some fowls, afraid lest harm befall them.” Some hours earlier during the bombardment, seeing that the gunners in the lower battery of Mex had abandoned their guns, a party of twelve volunteers, under Lieutenant Bradford, including Lieutenants Poore and Lambton, landed through the growing swell and breaking surf, and spiked six smooth-bores, and disabled two 10-inch rifled muzzle-loaders by exploding charges of gun-cotton in their muzzles. In the period that followed, Lieutenant Poore was of great assistance to Captain J. A. Fisher, who devised and improvised an armoured train which at once became exceedingly useful for reconnoitring purposes, and which was first employed in action on July 28th. Lieutenant Poore served in the armoured train throughout the remainder of the campaign. The train had a busy day on August 4th, when it accompanied a strong reconnaissance to Mallaha Junction, and there came into contact with Arabi’s outposts, and on the following day, the train was for the first time seriously engaged. On the 5th it steamed out under Captain Fisher at about 4pm. On board were Sir Archibald Alison, Admiral Seymour, Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Tuson, R.M.A., and 7 other officers including Poore. A train followed with 700 men of the Marine battalion, and in conjunction with a military force from Ramleh, and another contingent of 200 blue-jackets and 1000 Marines, engaged some 2,000 of the enemy at Mallaha Junction. On our side two men were killed and 16 wounded. The armoured train continued to make reconnaissances of this kind but the value of them was doubtful, as the positions taken were never held. Poore, still Lieutenant of the Invincible, next served with the Naval Brigade landed for service in the Sudan, with the Nile Expedition for the relief of General Gordon at Khartoum, in 1884-85. His services during this campaign were equally distinguished, especially when in command of the steamer Nassif Rheir while passing the Cataracts between Wadi Halfa and Dongola, and when crossing the desert with the 2nd Division of the Naval Brigade. He was mentioned in dispatches and promoted to Commander for these services. Poore was later promoted Captain of the Royal Yacht; he was ADC in attendance on King Edward VII on the occasion of his Coronation, 9 August 1902; promoted Rear-Admiral in August 1903, and Rear-Admiral in Mediterranean Fleet in November 1904; awarded C.V.O. on 11 August 1905, on the occasion of the visit of the French fleet to Cowes; promoted Vice-Admiral in March 1907, and Commander-in-Chief, Australian Station, February 1908 to December 1910; K.C.B. June 1909; Admiral, 17 July 1911; Commander-in-Chief at the Nore 1911-15; retired 1917; Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour 1917; Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Italy 1917. Admiral Sir Richard Poor, who had succeeded his father as 4th Baronet in 1893, married in 1885, Ida, daughter of Bishop Graves of Limerick. She was the author of Recollections of an Admiral’s Wife, 1916, An Admiral’s Wife in the Making, 1917, and Harbour Lights, 1922. Admiral Poore died on 8 December 1930.