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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 31

The scarce 'Benin 1897' casualty's East and West Africa Medal awarded to Gunner A. A. Targett, Royal Marine Artillery, who was specially recommended for his service in the expedition, having been seriously wounded while manning a Maxim Gun outside Benin City

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (A. A. Targett, Gr R.M.A., H.M.S. St George.), slight contact wear, very fine

Alred Arthur Targett was born at Portsmouth in June 1869 and attested with the Royal Marine Artillery at Eastney Barracks on 9 March 1888. He served with a number of shore establishments before being posted to Royal Arthur on 2 May 1893 and served with her for three years. Joining St. George on 24 January took part in the Benin Punitive Expedition, helping to crew a Maxim gun.

In this role he was present for the attack on Benin City which occurred on 18 February 1897. Targett's service papers note, 'Feb 197 Present at attack on Benin Specially Recommended'.

Unfortunately there was stiff opposition to the advance and Targett was to suffer as a result:

'-shot by a man in a tree while storming Benin - when trying to remove the bullet it was found that the pubic bone was shattered & the bullet impacted - also bullet wound of chest (which was removed).'

(IBID)

It should be noted that the diary of Private Lewis (OMRS Journal March 2019) states that Targett continued firing the Maxim despite his wounds. The Globe and Laurel quotes the journal of Corporal Rogerson, R.M.A. which describes the role of the Maxim's during the Battle, stating:

'Water was being served out, our guns put down, and we were lying about, glad of a rest, when, suddenly, fire was opened on us. "Mount the gun," was the order, and mounted it was, and in action, in less than thirty seconds, on the bush to the right, while the infantry fired volleys. The St. George's bluejackets, the 1st Section of the Marine Battalion, under Captain Byrne, our two maxims and their thirteen men, were the only troops in front, Lieut. Robertson, with the 2nd Section of the Marine Battalion being with the carrier column, in the rear. As soon as the bush to the right. Everything was stopped, as before, by the carriers burying their heads in the earth. The respective Nos. I shouldered the guns, another picked up the tripods, and the rest of the guns' crews brought up the belt boxes, but it was with difficulty that any advance was made as the coolies laid down on, and hid, the ammunition.

Meanwhile the Bluejackets and Marines had left us about 200 yards in rear, while desultory firing from the right bush was still going on. This became so hot that Sergeant Turner halted and mounted his gun in a position just in front of the hot spot and backed by a large tree, I came up and took up a position and mounted three yards on his right and immediately opened fire. We had not been there five minutes before Gunners Howlett, Targett and Sinister were wounded- Captain Byrne was shot through the right side and Private Varndell in the open during the advance, while Gunners Jones and Denman were wounded slightly. An incessant fire came from the trees opposite, scarcely fifty yards away and as the guns had not sufficient elevation to clear them, I directed Gunner Flatman to place boxes under front legs…'

They held their ground until the rearguard came up and then brought their guns forward to the now captured Benin City. Targett was posted to S.S. Malacca on 3 March 1897, his wound was clearly severe however despite this he was able to continue serving until March 1909 with a number of ships and shore establishments. Targett returned to service in August 1914 and served at Dunkirk before being transferred to Holm in the Orkneys in October 1915; sold together with copied research including service papers, a copy of Globe and Laurel and a casualty roll.

Further entitled to a 1914 Star Trio.

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Estimate
£700 to £900

Starting price
£550