British Groups

Lot 2312    Session 8 (2.30pm Thursday)    British Groups

Estimate $4,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $4,000

GROUP OF FIVE: Baltic Medal 1854-55; Crimea Medal 1854-56 - bar - Sebastopol; Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-58 - bar - Lucknow; Ashanti Medal 1873-74; Turkish Crimea Medal 1855-56 (British issue). W.M.Sloan A.B.Shannon on third medal, W.Sloan Chf:Py Officer H.M.S. Simoon 73-74 on fourth medal. First, second and last medals unnamed, third medal impressed and fourth medal engraved. Nearly extremely fine.

Ex.Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval medals 16Oct1996. William Sloan, born 11May1834 at Bere Island, Cork. Joined the service as a prime seaman and hence rated immediately as an A.B. aboard H.M.S.'Queen' on 11Sep1853 for a three year Commission. He was drafted to H.M.S.'Shannon' on 16Aug1856 serving as A.B. until `paid off' on 15Jan1859. However, after he had returned aboard `Shannon' from Naval Brigade duty he misbehaved, leading to being sent to the House of Correction at Calcutta for reasons under Act 10 & 11 Vic Cap 62., on 21Aug1858, rejoining his vessel surprisingly without being disrated to Ordinary Seaman on 12Sep1858. Subsequently served a full Commission aboard H.M.S.'Doris' commencing on 13Mar1859 as an A.B., completing his time there as a Petty Officer, Captain of the Mizzen Top on 27Dec1862. Next drafted to H.M.S.'Canopus' where from 14May1863 in his former rate, being advanced to 2nd Captain of the Fore Top o 16May1863 just three days before misbehaving yet again and being deprived of his only Good Conduct badge. His next Commanding Officer aboard `Alert' wrote him up as a `Smart active man and an excellent Petty Officer - most deserving' when his ship was recommissioned in Oct1865.He was to serve six years in this next vessel H.M.S.'Alert' in his former rate from 28Dec1862, until advanced to Petty officer 1st Class status as a Bosun's Mate in Mar1867, by which time he carried two Good Conduct Badges on his sleeve. But then the man writing up his personal Parchment Certificate stated bluntly - `Ran 1868'. In point of fact he had not deserted at all. He had been drafted to H.M.S.'Lion' - via `Canopus' on 31May1868, then drafted to `Agincourt' on 11Jun11869 as a Bosun's Mate until `paid off' o 31Aug1871. He was then drafted to the `Reserve' at Sheerness as a Chief Petty Officer (Chief Captain of the Forecastle) and his last vessel was `Simoon' (8May1873-27Apr1874) in which he earned his Ashantee reward. Pensioned to shore on 27Apr1874 without earning his L.S.G.C. medal. Together with two original parchment Certificate of Service, 16 photocopy pages of research. A rare group.