The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Royal Marine Meritorious Service Medal, V.R. (George Hancock, Sergt. Major, R.M.L.I. 9th Decr. 1903) impressed naming, very fine

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

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This medal was the last or penultimate issue (prior to Colour Sergeant John Cree R.M.L.I.) of the M.S.M. with the Victorian Young Head Obverse. The date ‘9th Decr 1903’ impressed on the edge of Hancock’s medal marks the day on which the Admiralty approved and despatched his medal with its annuity ante-dated to commence on 19th November 1903.

George Hancock was a weaver prior to enlisting at Lisburn on 26th of July 1847 aged 18 years, and was born in Hillsborough, County Down. He joined the Chatham Division as a Private, and was promoted to Corporal on 8 August 1852, to Sergeant on 22 July 1853, to Colour Sergeant on 10 September 1858, to Drill Sergeant on 6 June 1864, and ultimately to Sergeant Major on 12 September 1866, in which rank he was pensioned with slightly less than 22 years service on 30 March 1869. He served three full commissions at sea aboard H.M. Ships RACER (1849-52), DAUNTLESS (1854-57) and HECATE (1860-64). It was whilst aboard H.M.S. DAUNTLESS that he saw action in the Baltic Campaign during the summer of 1854, and in September of that year his ship was transferred to the Black Sea to be engaged before Sebastopol and at Fort Kinburn. He is recorded as receiving his L.S. & G.C. medal as a Sergeant Major with £15 gratuity in January 1869 while serving with 4 Company at Woolwich with 21 years service.