Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Chief Boatman, H.M. Coats Guard, late Royal Navy

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, clasp loose on ribbon, unnamed as issued; Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, engraved naming (Patrick Cunningham Chf. Boatmn. H.M. Coast Gd. 30 Yrs.); Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed as issued, fitted with replacement bar suspension, nearly very fine or better (4) £500-£700

One of 38 L.S. & G.C. medals with engraved naming and ‘Yrs’ on edge recorded by Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris.

Patrick Cunningham was born on 8 November 1824 at Headford, Co. Galway. He joined the Royal Navy as a Landsman aboard H.M.S. Andromache on 16 February 1847. Drafted to Arethusa in March 1851, he was rated Able Seaman in June 1852 and served in the Black Sea during 1854, earning the Crimea medal with clasp for Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal. He transferred to Cressy on 15 January 1855 and served in the Baltic Sea, earning the Baltic medal. He was advanced to Leading Seaman in March 1855 and to Petty Officer as Coxwain of Cutter in May 1856. Upon being paid off he joined the Coast Guard Service as Boatman on 22 May 1857, being promoted Commissioned Boatman in October 1866 and Chief Boatman in April 1874. Cunningham received the L.S. & G.C. medal on 20 February 1877, and was pensioned on 28 February of the same year.