(Hy. Palmer, Chf. Boatn. H.M. Coast Gd. 28 Yrs.) good very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Only 38 engraved, narrow suspension medals are known with the recipient’s number of years of service on the edge.

Henry Palmer was born on 24 January 1824 in Malling, Kent, and entered the service as an Ordinary Seaman aboard H.M.S. TRAFALGAR on 14 January 1846, advanced to Able Seaman in February 1850. Drafted to MEANDER in June 1852 prior to joining ALGIERS in May 1854 for her participation in the Crimean War, during which time he became entitled to the British Crimea Medal with clasp Sebastopol and the Turkish Crimea Medal. During his time in Algiers he was advanced on two occasions - to Leading Seaman in June 1854, and to Petty Officer status on 17 July 1855, but reverted to Ship's Cook on 6 April 1856 thereby suggesting that he had suffered some physical hurt. A month after being paid off from ALGIERS he became a Boatman in the Coast Guard Service on 11 October 1856, rising to Chief Boatman in September 1859, a rate he retained until pensioned on 31 March 1875.