Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Java (William T. Pinhey, Lieut. R.M.) sold with a small length of original ribbon, nearly extremely fine £2500-3000

Confirmed on the roll as Lieutenant Royal Marines aboard H.M.S. Lion at the capture of Java. Eight naval medals issued with this clasp to Royal Marine officers.

William Townley Pinhey joined the Royal Marines on 1 October 1805 as a Second Lieutenant in the Woolwich Division. He joined H.M.S. Lion 64 on 8 January 1806 and served his entire active service career aboard this ship, staying with her for two full commissions until she was paid off up the Homoaze, Plymouth, on 23 May 1814. He was promoted to Lieutenant in September 1809 and was First Lieutenant of Marines aboard the Lion at the capture of Java on 25 August 1811.

Pinhey was placed on half-pay on 1 September 1814 and afterwards practised medicine in Poplar, Leyton and New Shoreham, Sussex. He died in Brighton on 16 December 1856.

Sold with research including an in-depth report by Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris R.N. and copied extracts from the book Looking Back which includes a silhouette portrait and short account of his life, and also that of his first son who emigrated to Australia and built a home in Glebe Point Road, Sydney, which still stands today.