Six: Commander A. J. G. Piffard, Royal Indian Marine

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, no clasp (Mr., I.G.S. Amberwitch); India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (2nd Gde. Officer, H.M.I.M.S. Sir W. Peel); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, no clasp (Commr., R.I.M.S. Canning); China 1900, no clasp (Commr., R.I.M.S. Canning); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Comdr., R.I.M.S. Hardinge); Khedive’s Star 1882, onetime cleaned and lacquered, minor contact wear, very fine and better and a remarkable combination of awards (6) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barrett J. Carr Collection of Boer War Medals.

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Collection

Ex Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris, R.N. collection, 12 February 1997 (Lot 113).

Just 42 Queen’s South Africa Medals were awarded to the Royal Indian Marine, 34 of them without clasp.

Albert James Guerard Piffard, who was born in Calcutta, India in November 1861, was apprenticed to Messrs. Thomas & James Harrison of Liverpool, serving for over two years at sea, latterly as an Ordinary Seaman. In March 1880, he joined the Indian Marine as a 4th Grade Officer on probation and was confirmed in that rank before witnessing active service off Egypt in the Amberwitch in 1882.

Having then passed the Board of Trade examination for 2nd Mate, he was advanced to 3rd Grade Officer in August 1883 and, unusually, immediately appointed a 2nd Grade Officer on joining his next ship. Further active service followed in the Burma operations 1885-87, in which period he served variously in the Canning, Sir William Peel and Irrawaddy. Promoted to 1st Grade Officer in January 1888, Piffard was given his first command, the Nancowry, in August 1890 and, following several other seagoing appointments, was advanced to 3rd Grade Commander in March 1897.

In March 1899, he removed to the Canning, aboard which ship he qualified for his Queen’s South Africa and China Medals in the following year, and between May 1901 and October 1904, during his time aboard the Hardinge, he was awarded his fifth campaign award for services in the Somaliland operations.

Piffard was placed on the Retired List in the rank of 2nd Grade Commander in July 1907, having served in the Royal Indian Marine for nearly 30 years.