Arctic Medal 1818-55 (J. Brown H.M. Ship. Rattlesnake.) attractively engraved in running script, with silver top riband buckle, repair to suspension claw, otherwise very fine £1,000-£1,400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals - The Property of a Gentleman.

View
Collection

John Brown was born in London on 14 April 1814 and joined the Royal Navy at Portsmouth as Able Seaman on 4 August 1840. Posted to Vanguard, Hydra and Excellent, he was raised Gunner’s Mate aboard Pantaloon on 4 July 1848, and returned to Excellent on 28 February 1842. Appointed to H.M.S. Rattlesnake on 21 December 1852, Brown served as Quartermaster under the command of Captain Henry Trollope on the Arctic supply voyage of 1853-54. The Chronological List of Expeditions and Historical Events, adds:

‘Rattlesnake was sent to Bering Strait with supplies for Plover. the two ships met at Port Clarence, Alaska; Rattlesnake wintered there, but Plover returned to winter at Point Barrow. 1854: Rattlesnake sailed for Point Barrow in June, but failed to meet Plover. She returned to Port Clarence, where Plover had already arrived. A few days later, Enterprise appeared after an absence of three years in the Arctic, and Rattlesnake left at once for San Francisco to forward her despatches.’

Returned home to Excellent on 8 January 1856, Brown transferred to Cambridge on 18 December 1856 and was raised Chief Gunner’s Mate on 23 June 1857. In possession of three good conduct badges, he was appointed to pension after 20 years of service in the Royal Navy on 29 September 1860.

Sold with copied service record and extracts from The Polar Record, Volume 16, No. 101 (1972).