Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Indian Mutiny medal awarded to Able Seaman James French, who served with Shannon’s Naval Brigade and was severely wounded at Khujwa November 1857

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Jas. French, A.B. Shannon.) small bruise to obverse rim and other minor edge bruises, otherwise better than very fine £800-£1,000

John Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, March 2002 (See footnote below).

Approximately 66 no-clasp medals issued to the Shannon.

James French was born on 9 July 1833, and was baptised on 25 August following at Gillingham, Kent, the illegitimate son of Elizabeth (Betsy) French. He joined H.M.S. Poictiers, a depot ship moored at Chatham, as a Boy 2nd Class on 17 November 1847, aged 14. He was transferred to H.M.S. Kingfisher on 28 June 1848; advanced to Boy 1st Class, 2 August 1850; transferred to H.M.S. Imaum, 9 March 1851; and advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 19 June 1853. He commenced his enlistment with the Continuous Service Number 353 on 1 July 1853, aged 20, and joined H.M.S. Boscawen heading to join the French fleet in the Baltic Sea at Baro Sound on 1 November 1854. He transferred at sea to S.S. Malacca on 12 July 1856, for passage back to England to join H.M.S. Shannon as an Able Seaman on 30 September 1856, the ship in the process of being fitted for a voyage to China.

On the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny, Shannon was diverted from Hong Kong via Singapore to Calcutta and James French took part in the Naval Brigade’s first action at Khujwa on 1 November 1857, when a strong force of mutineers was signally defeated. He was severely wounded in this action by a gunshot wound, the ball passing directly through the front of the ankle joint. In this action, from a strength of 103 officers, men and marines the Naval Brigade had 3 ratings mortally wounded, and three officers and eleven ratings wounded. Her Majesty’s 53rd Regiment suffered badly in this action with 12 killed, including their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel T. S. Powell, C.B. James French consequently received treatment at Futtehpore on 2 November 1857, before being invalided to Calcutta.

Shannon returned to England on 7 May 1858, and French became a temporary out-pensioner of Greenwich Hospital. He came before the Navy Pensions board on 10 March 1859 and was awarded an annual pension of 16 Guineas for a period of 2 years. He returned to duty on H.M.S. Castor, 6 February 1860, a training ship for the Royal Navy Reserve. The 1861 census shows him living in a local hostelry in North Shields working on Castor. The last entry on his service record shows he signed off from Castor on 1 February 1861. He had served just 5 years 258 days.

He afterwards found employment as a Ropemaker, late of Rose Lane, Twig Folly, Bethnal Green, but died on 21 May 1866, aged 33. He was buried 6 days later at Gillingham, Kent, the town of his birth.

Note: When sold as part of the Tamplin Collection in March 2002, it was stated that James French served on Valorous during the Crimean campaign and was entitled to the Crimea medal with clasp for Sebastopol. His Description books and service record show this to be incorrect as the French on the Valorous was called Charles and was a Boy 1/C. James French actually transferred at sea 12 July 1856 to the Malacca from H.M.S. Boscowan for passage to England to join Shannon, as stated above. (ADM/38 confirms).

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