Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Arctic Medal 1818-55, privately engraved to the three lower edges of the medal (W. Murray 1818-1855) a little loose at claw, contact marks, otherwise very fine £1,200-£1,600

William Murray was born at Falmouth, Cornwall, in about 1825, the son of William James Murray and Elizabeth. He commenced naval service as Boy 2nd Class, joining H.M.S. Inconstant on 24 March 1839. He joined H.M.S. Magicienne on 16 October 1841, and was advanced to Boy 1st Class on 6 May 1842. Having been advanced to Ordinary Seaman he served in H.M.S. America from 18 May 1844 to 20 October 1847. He joined H.M.S. Investigator on 16 April 1848, remaining in her until 26 November 1849. He joined H.M.S. Enterprise at Woolwich as a volunteer Able Seaman on 24 December 1849, and remained in her until 24 May 1855, thereby completing two voyages to the Arctic. He signed for the medal ‘with his mark’, on 24 June 1857. In 1871 he was a resident of Deptford, London.