Stoker Class 2, William Payne, HMS Active.

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Portsmouth Evening News, Friday 31 October 1879.

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HMS Active had arrived home at Portsmouth on the 4th of October, and HMS Shah arrived there on the 8th of October. After the ships had been inspected, and the weapons turned in, the men were granted leave. During that time they were treated like returning heroes. On the 23rd the men of “Active” and “Shah” were entertained at the Royal Sailor’s Home, Portsea . Then on the 25th of October a banquet was given by the townsfolk of Portsmouth and Gosport at the Portland Hall in Southsea for the soldiers and sailors of the Zulu War. Along with the soldiers, men from “Active” and “Shah,” plus a few invalids from “Boadicea” were in attendance.

I suppose that Payne wasn’t quite ready for all the celebrating to stop. I’ll bet he didn’t get his “Temperance” medal that year.

William Payne, Stoker 2nd Class was entitled to the South Africa Medal without Clasp. He was still Stoker 2nd Class when he received his medal on 5 January, 1882 while serving on HMS Toumaline.

Petty Officer Tom