Description South Africa 1877-9, Zulu War Medal, Stoker Michael Morrison, HMS Shah, Royal Navy, an Irish Sailor from Aghada, County Cork, Ireland. Officially engraved: M. Morrison. Stoker 2nd Cl: H.M.S. “Shah” Confirmed on the medal roll, issued to him on HMS Revenge, 6th September 1881. With copy service papers. Michael Morrison was born in Aghada, Cork, Ireland on 13th November 1855. Joining the Royal Navy at HMS St Vincent on 1st January 1873 as a young Boy 2nd Class. Advanced to Boy 1st Class on 8th January 1873, and became Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class on 14th November 1873 at HMS Duke of Wellington. Followed by Ordinary Seaman on HMS Royal Adelaide, 5th April 1877. He earned this medal for his service on board HMS Shah from 17th November 1878 until 31st October 1879. During that time he rose to Stoker 2nd Class on 1st Jan 1879, followed by Stoker on 1st September. During the Zulu War, HMS Shah was on her voyage home when stopping off at St Helena, where news was received of the British Defeat at Isandhlwana. Shah was then diverted to carry soldiers to Durban in South Africa. Some men were detached to form part of the Naval Brigade, before the ship returned home after the conclusion of the war in October 1879. Continuing on in his long career at Sea, one of his last main postings was 3 years on board HMS Egeria from 14th October 1886 – 9th December 1889. During this time the Egeria was under the command of Captain Pelham Aldrich, engaged in a survey around Australia. Notably during 1887 she called in at Christmas Island, and in 1899 she cruised the Union and Phoenix Islands to declare a British Protectorate over the region. This expedition raised a flag on Atafu, Hull, Phoenix and Sydney Islands, but encountered Americans on several other islands including Swains. Joseph Jackson Lister FRS a Professional Collector, was a volunteer Naturalist onboard the Egeria for her surveying voyages to Christmas Island. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Jackson_Lister_(naturalist) It was raised during 1890 in Hansard that during this time: “One petty officer and one seaman of the Egeria were tried for attempting to make a mutinous assembly and for wilful disobedience to orders, and were sentenced respectively to five years’ penal servitude and two years’ imprisonment. Five other seamen were tried for disobedience, and sentenced to punishments varying from one year to six months’ imprisonment.” He remained with the Royal Navy before eventually transferring to the Coast Guard as a Boatman on 29th June 1890. Seeing service at Kimmeridge, St Albans Head and Weymouth, where he was promoted to Commissioned Boatman on 7th June 1897. Having joined the Coast Guard at Limerick being stationed at Smerwick, he was discharged on 7th July 1893 being invalided and pensioned.
