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

(Patrick Cunningham, Chf. Boatmn. H.M. Coast Gd. 30 Yrs.) the obverse polished, otherwise nearly very fine

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

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Patrick Cunningham was born on 8 November 1824 at Headford, Galway, and joined the service as a Landsman aboard H.M.S. ANDROMACHE on 16 February 1847. He was drafted to ARETHUSA in March 1851 receiving advancement to Able Seaman in June 1852 and subsequently seeing service in the Black Sea during 1854 where he earned his Turkish and British Crimean Medals, the latter with clasp ‘Sebastopol’. Transferred to CRESSY on 15 January 1855 to participate in the war with Russia upon Baltic waters, where he earned the Baltic Medal and rapid advancement to Leading Seaman in March 1855 and to Petty Officer as Coxswain of Cutter in May 1856. Upon being paid off he joined the Coast Guard Service as a Boatman on 22 May 1857, being made a Commissioned Boatman in October 1866 and Chief Boatman in April 1874, three years before he was pensioned on 28 February 1877 - eight days after receiving his long service award.