GROUP OF 3 MEDALS TO CAPT. R.L.B. BRUCE, H.M.S. MONARCH (DIED AT QUEEN VICTORIA'S FUNERAL 1901)

Robert Dalrymple Barwick Bruce was born in Ripon, Yorkshire on 23 Nov 1849, the son of William Downing Bruce, obtaining his Naval Cadetship qualification at H.M.S. Britannia from 11 Mar 1862, H.M.S. Victory, Emerald and Formidable, appointed Midshipman aboard H.M.S. Princess Royal, flagship of Rear-Admiral George St. Vincent King, from 16 Apr 1866 and assigned to H.M.S. Druid from 24 July 1874 and H.M.S. Duncan from 15 Dec 1876, serving for two years at the Cape Cape of Good Hope Station.

For the remainder of the 1860s, Bruce served aboard H.M.S. Princess Charlotte, H.M.S. Urgent, H.M.S. Himalaya, H.M.S. Lord Warden, H.M.S. Arethusa and H.M.S. Royalist.

The following decade, Bruce was posted to H.M.S. Duke of Wellington, H.M.S. Duncan and H.M.S. Firefly and appointed Lieutenant aboard H.M.S. Euphrates during the Egypt Campaign of 1882, promoted to the rank of Commander in 1886 and commanded the armoured battleship, H.M.S. Monarch at the Cape on the outbreak of the Boer War.

Landing as part of the Naval Brigade, Bruce was entitled to the Cape Colony clasp - one of just 14 clasped Ship's Captain's medals.

Bruce died on 3 Feb 1901 'in the execution of his duty whilst in command of H.M.S. Galatea at Queen Victoria's Funeral.'

He is buried at Haslar Naval Cemetery with Naval Honours. The Globe published the following obituary on 4 Feb 1901:

"Death of Capt. R.D. Bruce - Capt. Robert Dalrymple Barwick Bruce of the cruiser 'Galatea', died yesterday at the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, from pneumonia. He had been removed to the hospital suffering from that complaint on the arrival of the ship at Spithead, to take part in the Queen's funeral. Deceased, who was born in 1849, joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1862. He became a sub-lieutenant in 1868, and a lieutenant four years later, being promoted commander in 1886, and captain in 1894. As a Lieutenant he served on the 'Euphrates' during the Egyptian War of 1882, and received the Egyptian Medal and Khedive's Bronze Star."