Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

Family group:

Pair: Rear-Admiral Robert Elliot, Royal Navy

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Egypt (R. Elliot, Capt. R.N.); Sultan’s Medal for Egypt 1801, 4th Class, gold, 36mm., with integral loop but lacking gold chain and hook suspension, the first extremely fine, the second good fine

Pair: Commander Robert Hilley Elliot, Royal Navy

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Syria (R. H. Elliot, Lieut. R.N.); St. Jean d’Acre 1840, silver, fitted with ring and straight bar suspension, good very fine (4) £5,000-£7,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Collection

Peter Dale Collection, July 2000.

Robert Elliot was born in October 1767, in Roxburghshire, and is the brother of Major-General Henry Elliot. He entered the Navy, in July 1781, on board the Dunkirk, Captain Millingan, bearing the flag of Admiral Milbanke at Plymouth; and, from 1782 until the breaking out of the French revolutionary war, was employed, on the North American and Home stations, in the Diomede 44, Captain Thos. Lennox Frederick, Thisbe, Captain George Robertson, Edgar 74, Captain Adam Duncan, Hector 74, Captain Sir John Collins, Edgar again, Captain C. Thompson, Robust 74, Captain George Keith Elphinstone, Bellerophon 74, Captain Thomas Pasley, and Diomede, Captain Matthew Smith. On 13 July 1793, having passed his examination in 1788, he was promoted to a Lieutenancy in the Savage, Captain G. Wentworth; after two years’ servitude in which sloop, on the Downs station, he became First of the Greyhound 32, Captains Paget, Bailey, and Young. Assuming command, 26 December 1796, of the Plymouth hired armed-lugger, Mr. Elliot, in March 1797, took (and was officially reported for his great activity and successful exertions on the occasions) the privateers Epervier of 4 guns, 3 swivels, and 29 men, and L’Amitié, of 14 guns and 55 men. For his eventual services in the Good Design, another hired armed-lugger, in which he had been promoted to the rank of Commander, 14 February 1801, Captain Elliot obtained the Egyptian gold medal. On being next appointed, 11 April, 1804, to the Lucifer bomb, he proceeded to the Mediterranean, and, after entering the Dardanelles, was particularly active off the island of Prota, where he assisted, 27 February 1807, in covering the landing of the boats previously to an attack on the enemy, whose retreat he was subsequently, with the launches of the squadron under his orders, employed to intercept. He afterwards hoisted the flag of Sir Alexander Ball, whom he assisted in carrying on the port-duties at Valetta, until posted, 27 June 1808, into the Porcupine 24. During the ensuing five years Captain Elliot was most actively employed. His last appointment was, 20 October 1813, to the Surveillante 38, in which frigate he served off the north coast of Spain. He went on half-pay in March 1814; obtained the Captain’s Good-Service Pension 19 February 1842; and was admitted to the out-pension of Greenwich Hospital on 15 July, 1844. His assumption of Flag-rank took place on 9 November 1846.
Rear-Admiral Elliot has for the last eight or ten years been perfectly blind, a misfortune partly attributable to his services in Egypt. He married Ann, daughter of Andrew Hilley, Esq., of Plymouth, by whom he has, with two daughters, one son, the present Commander R. H. Elliot, R.N.

Robert Hilley Elliot was born on 18 July 1804, the only son of Rear-Admiral Robert Elliot, R. N. This officer entered the Navy on 15 November 1818, as First-class Volunteer, on board the Liffey 50, Captain Hon. Henry Duncan, employed on particular service. Between July 1821, and February 1825, we find him officiating as Midshipman, on the South American station, in the Doris 42, Captain Thomas Graham, Créole 42, Commodore Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Blossom 22, Captain Archibald M‘Lean, and Aurora 46, Captain Henry Prescott. He then, having passed his examination, became successively Mate of the Victory 104, and Barham 50, flag-ships at Portsmouth and in the West Indies of Sir George Martin and Hon. Charles Elphinstone Fleeming, and Nimble schooner, Lieut.-Commander Edward Holland. For his conduct in the latter vessel at the capture, 19 December 1827, of the Guerrero slaver, of superior force, Mr. Elliot was promoted, 3 February 1828, to a Lieutenancy in the Valorous 20, Captain the Earl of Huntingdon. He returned home from the West Indies in the following September and subsequently joined, on the Lisbon and Mediterranean stations, 3 June 1831, the Briton 46, Captain John Duff Markland; 19 June 1833, the Endymion 50, Captain Samuel Roberts; 2 December 1833, the Revenge 76, Captains Hon. Donald Hugh Mackay and William Elliott; 2 March 1836, the Medea steam-vessel, Captain Horatio Thomas Austin; and, 1 January 1839, the Powerful 84, Captain Charles Napier. After serving throughout the Syrian war, and witnessing the fall of St. Jean d’Acre, he was at length advanced to the rank of Commander, 4 November 1840. Since 8 July 1844, he has been employed as an Inspecting-Commander in the Coast Guard.

Admiral Elliot is recorded as actually receiving a Second Class Sultan’s Medal for Egypt, not a Fourth Class Medal.