Full medal write up
ABYSSINIA 1868 ‘C. E. REYNARD MIDS H.M.S. NYMPHE’.
Navy List entry: “Reynard, C.E., served during the riots in Jamaica, 1866, as Aide-de-camp to Captain De Horsey and Governor Eyre; was employed in Canadian gunboats protecting the frontier from Fenian attacks, 1866-7; employed in the Abyssinian expedition, 1868 (Abyssinian medal); served in the boats of ‘Nymphe’ in the suppression of the slave trade, S.E. cost of Africa 1868-9; in charge of one of ‘Nymphe’s’ boats at the bombardment and destruction of the forts of Bahrien and Maharagh, Persian Gulf, 1869; the special thanks of the Indian Government were rendered for this service’
Charles Edward Reynard was born at Sunderlandwick on 8 January 1850 and entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet aboard Britannia on 9 January 1864.
Joining Victory on 23 March 1865 but borne on the books of Wolverine, he served aboard a number of ships before joining Wolverine on 28 June that year. Advanced to Midshipman on 21 September 1865, he joined Aurora on 5 November 1865, serving with this ship until 20 December 1867. During his time aboard Wolverine, he served as ADC to Captain De Horsey and Governor Eyre during the Morant Bay Rebellion, Jamaica in October 1865. The excesses committed suppressing the rebellion, sparked outrage by many in Britain, a committee calling for Eyre to be tried for mass murder.
https://victorianweb.org/history/empire/westindies/insurrection.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morant_Bay_rebellion
Following Captain De Horsey into Aurora, Midshipman was employed in Canadian gunboats during the Fenian attacks of 1866-7, Captain De Horsey during the period being senior Officer on the Lakes of Canada. ‘Gunboats on the Lower Lakes During the Fenian Scare’, gives detail on the service of these gunboats:
https://www.fadedpage.com/books/20250102/html.php
A more recent publication will no doubt add far more:
https://navyhistory.org/2018/10/gunboats-on-the-great-lakes/
Between 21 December 1867 and 8 April 1870, he again served on a number of ships as Acting Sub Lieutenant, this time borne on the books of Cossack; Victory until 28 February 1868, ** until 18 March 1868, Satellite until 31 March 1868, Spiteful until 15 April 1868, Nymphe until 8 April 1870 and Cossack as Sub Lieutenant, April 1870 – 27 February 1871.
During his service with Nymphe, Reynard saw much anti slaver service in the boats of this ship off the South East Coast of Africa. Nymphe, along with Daphne being credited with capture of no less than 60 slave vessels. He later commanded a boat of Nymphe during the bombardment and destruction of the forts of Bahrien and Maharagh, Persian Gulf, 1869.
Over the following few months, he served on various ships on passage to join Excellent, which he did on 26 May 1871, passing for Lieutenant shortly after and joining Briton on 20 September 1871 and Audacious on 2 March 1873. Having been promoted Lieutenant on 23 February 1875, he left Audacious, but his service record is quite hard to make out until he joined Kestrel on 3 May 1875, leaving on 25 April 1876. His next service was with Active from 13 April 1877 and joining Tourmaline, 30 July 1877 but was invalided on 5 July 1878. He final service was with Duke of Wellington, 30 July 1878, until 12 August 1878, when he was placed on half pay.
Admitted to Haslar on 20 September 1878, Lieutenant Reynard died aged 28 (and unmarried) at Bournemouth, 14 March 1879 and is buried in the churchyard of Branksome, near Bournemouth.
Lieutenant Reynard only medal was the Abyssinia medal. Had he lived, he would also have been entitled to the Canada General Service medal, clasp Fenian Raid 1866, which was issued retrospectively in 1899.
Condition GVF. Sold with copy service (digital). A very fine medal to a naval officer who saw a great deal of active service. Worthy of much more detailed research.