Orders, Decorations and Medals

China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (Lieut. H. Du C. Luard, R.N., H.M.S. Barfleur) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine collection of awards for the Boxer Rebellion 1900.

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Collection

272 medals issued with Relief of Pekin clasp to this ship.

Herbert Du Cane Luard was born at Clowance, Devon, 25 March 1870, son of Vice-Admiral N. G. Luard, and joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in Britannia on 15 July 1885. He joined the battleship Barfleur as Gunnery Lieutenant in May 1898 and served in China as part of the first relief force sent up from the fleet to Tientsin in the third week of June 1900. He was strongly mentioned in despatches for his services at Tientsin by Vice-Admiral Seymour: ‘Lieutenant Herbert Du C. Luard, of H.M.S. “Barfleur”, who took on the duties of inspection of defences after Lieutenant Wright had been wounded, and the defence of the line - a very long and troublesome one, constantly “sniped” by night - has been most indefatigable.’

He afterwards accompanied the force to Pekin in August and was present at the battles of 5th and 6th August, and entered the city on the 14th. In November 1900 Luard was specially promoted to Commander for services in China. During the Great War he held the post of Captain Superintendent of the National Nautical College at Portishead. In November 1918 he was admitted to hospital with enteritis and died on 21 February 1919.