Lieutenant Thomas Abbott . Victorian naval officer

http://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/News/Medals-%26-Militaria/Victorian-naval-officer-archive-to-see-$7,500-at-Duke's?/13600.page

Thomas Francis Abbott
 
10 Mar 1854 Born:  Ireland, Son of Admiral Jonas Abbott
 
Apr 1867 Entered Navy as Naval Cadet on HMS Britannia (Training ship)
 
28 Jan 1869 Promoted to Midshipman
 
14 Jun 1869 Midshipman on HMS Scylla (Corvette, Pacific Station)
 
31 May 1873 Midshipman on HMS Sultan (Iron Screw Ship, Channel Squadron)
 
28 Jul 1873 Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant
 
Jan 1874 Appointed Sub-Lieutenant to HMS Modeste
 
30 Sep 1874 Sub-Lieutenant on HMS Thistle (Composite Gun Vessel, China Station) accompanied Mr. Birch HM Commissioner to Passir Sala Malay Straits in 1875, where Mr. Birch was murdered, when Abbott took charge of the Residency, and with the small force at his command, took effective steps for its defence;  for his services on this occasion he was highly commended by the Commander in Chief, also by the Governor of the Straits Settlements; served at attack on Marahajah Selah with the field forces and was actively employed on shore against the enemy for three months; promoted; Perak Medal with Clasp
 
28 Jan 1876 Promoted to Lieutenant for efficient and active services against Malays in the Straits of Malacca.
 
14 Aug 1876 Lieutenant on HMS Shah (Frigate,Flagship, Pacific) participated in the attack on the Peruvian ironclad Huascar and commanded the steam torpedo pinnace in the attempt to destroy the Huascar at Ylo 31st May 1877; mentioned in despatches; During the Zulu War, in charge of transporting the Eshowe Relief column over the Tugela river, served at Ft. Tenedos, with 2 other officers and 37 men, during the Eshowe Relief, (commended by Commodore Richards); Stationed at Fort Chelmsford with part of the Shah brigade prior to second invasion. He served with that part of the naval brigade that accompanied General Crealock’s column to Port Durnford; served ashore from 7 March to 21 July; South Africa medal with clasp “1879”, mentioned in despatches
 
5 Feb 1880 Lieutenant on HMS Alexandra (Flagship, Mediterranean)
 
13 Apr 1882 Lieutenant on HMS Minotaur (Flagship, Channel Squadron, Temporarily assigned to Mediterranean) during Egyptian war, 1882; Egyptian Medal, Khedive's Bronze Star
 
4 Sep 1884 Lieutenant on HMS Victoria & Albert (Royal Yacht, Portsmouth)
 
30 May 1886 Died at age 32, having recently taken ill with sunstroke while on “Victoria & Albert”
 
1 Jun 1886 Funeral at St. John’s church, Brading.  Among those in attendance included former shipmates from HMS Shah, Lieutenant G. P. Henderson, Boatswain J. Crocker
 
 
Petty Officer Tom

Thanks Tom.


http://www.kaiserscross.com/304501/471964.html

littlehand,
 
Thanks for posting the photo of Abbott.  Hopefully whoever purchased the album and journals will one day make some of the photographs of the crew of HMS Shah available for us to see.
 
There are several albums known to exist - Staff-Surgeon Norbury and Sub-Lieut. Fraser of "Active" and now Abbott's of the "Shah," and I am sure some of the Army as well.  
 
I truly apppreciate John Young, Isandula, and other members of the forum who share the photos in their collections with us.  There is something rewarding about looking on the faces of men who over 130 years ago served their country.  "Lest they be forgotten."
 
 
Petty Officer Tom

Excellent post LH. Still coming up with new information!