Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

Lot 2911    SESSION 14 (2.30PM THURSDAY 1ST AUG)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - British Groups

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

VC REPLACEMENT TRIO: Victoria Cross (cast duplicate Naval issue); New Zealand Medal 1864-66; Abyssinian War Medal 1867-68. April 29 1864 on first medal and on reverse of suspender, S. Mitchell., S.Mitchell Capt F. Top H.M.S.Harrier. on second medal, S.Mitchell Sergt. R.M.A. on third medal. All chisel engraved. Mounted for display, the first medal is a cast copy made by the New Zealand Government from a genuine VC, fine, the last medal ground back on the reverse before naming, the last two medals, being replacement issues by the New Zealand Government, with some contact marks, otherwise very fine.

VC: LG 22879, 26.7.1864, page 3711.

Citation: 'For his gallant conduct at the attack at Te Papa, Tauranga, on the 29th of April last, in entering the Pah with Commander Hay, and when that Officer was mortally wounded, bringing him out, although ordered by Commander Hay to leave him, and seek his own safety. This man was at the time 'Captain of the Foretop' of the "Harrier" doing duty as Captain's Coxswain; and Commodore Sir William Wiseman brings his name to special notice for his act of gallantry.'

Captain Samuel Mitchell, V.C., was born at Apsley, Woburn, Bedfordshire on 8 September 1841, the son of a labourer. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in August 1857. He completed his gunnery course at H.M.S. Excellent in 1859 and joined H.M.S. Harrier on commissioning at Portsmouth in August 1860. Shortly afterwards he was appointed captain of the mizzen-top.^H.M.S. Harrier served in New Zealand during 1863 and 1864, her crew taking part in the Waikato Campaign and was present at Rangiriri and other places in that district where some of his shipmates and crew were killed. When the campaign was changed to the East Coast, the Harrier, then under the command of Commander Hay was ordered to Tauranga, where the men were landed and formed part of the Naval Brigade.

On 29 April 1864, Samuel Mitchell was one of the men formed to the shore party. They dashed up the hill of the pa and eventually climbed over its steep walls. The Maoris alerted to the shore party's presence fired upon them from well entrenched positions. In the ensuing exchange of fire, Commander Hay was mortally wounded. Mitchell immediately grabbed the officer onto his back and made his way to the rear despite the Commander's orders to leave him and seek safety. The Commander was carried on board the Harrier, but nothing could be done. The Commander directed his officers to request that the Queen should confer the Victoria Cross upon Mitchell for his gallant conduct. Commander Hay died from his wounds some 36 hours later.

Samuel Mitchell left H.M.S. Harrier as Bosun's Mate on paying off in March 1865. On discharge from the Royal Navy in May 1866 he migrated to New Zealand hoping to make his fortune in the West Coast gold rush. During his travel to New Zealand via Sydney, Australia his sea chest was lost, with all his possessions including his Victoria Cross group, in Sydney. The Victoria Cross was later discovered for sale in England and after much negotiating it was finally acquired by Samuel Mitchell's daughter, Edith, in 1928. Samuel Mitchell settled down as a farmer at Hokitika in New Zealand's South Island. He married Agnes (nee Ross) in 1869 and they had eleven children, all of whom were born in New Zealand. Samuel Mitchell VC was drowned in the Mikonui River on 16 March 1894 at the age of 52 and his wife, Agnes, died at Ross on 23 October 1918 at the age of 71. They are buried together at Ross Cemetery, Ross, New Zealand.^Upon the death of Samuel Mitchell's daughter, Edith, the Victoria Cross was gifted to the West Coast Historical Museum at Hokitika, New Zealand in trust for all descendents of the time being of Samuel Mitchell.

There have been other reports of a Victoria Cross named to Samuel Mitchell appearing in Canada and despite being sold it was eventually examined by the firm of Hancocks, London, the firm responsible for making Victoria Crosses, who in 1956 declared it a replica.

We have received advice that there were several fake V.C.s named to Samuel Mitchell as well as advice that it is doubtful that the New Zealand Government would authorise copying a V.C. and also no Abyssinian War Medal was issued to Samuel Mitchell. The medals offered here have been sold in two previous auctions, not by us, therefore when looking at this lot 'caveat emptor'

With considerable research including Certificate of Service, copy of Death Certificate, copy of correspondence from Samuel Mitchell's daughter, Edith and many other documents.