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

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse undated (H. F. Crohan, Midn. H.M.S. Iris 1860-61) officially impressed naming, light scratching to obverse fields, otherwise good very fine £1,200-£1,600

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

Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996.

Crohan's medal was issued on 9 November 1878. 72 medals (10 to R.N. officers, 49 to R.N. ratings, 1 to R.M. officer, and 12 to R.M. N.C.Os. and men) were awarded to H.M.S. Iris of which 34 are known, including 4 with undated reverses and 3 with reverses dated 1860. Crohan's medal is the only undated example known to a Royal Navy officer on H.M.S. Iris and is also a rare example with impressed dates on the edge, the issuing authorities having run out of dated reverse medals.

Herbert Crohan was born on 16 September 1841, and first entered as a Naval Cadet on 12 April 1855, aboard H.M.S. Pylades. He transferred to H.M.S. Iris in November 1856, to take part ashore (9 July to 11 October 1860) in the early stages of the Second New Zealand War as a Midshipman (seniority 12 April 1857) on the books of H.M.S. Cordelia. Promoted to Acting Mate in October 1860, immediately on return from shore to his proper vessel, H.M.S. Iris, he subsequently served aboard Fawn (1861-62), where he received promotion to Sub Lieutenant in January 1862, and later on Pelorus (1862-63) where he was promoted to Lieutenant in August 1862, followed by Cadmus (1865-68) and Pheasant (1871-73).

He was promoted to Commander in February 1873 and appointed to H.M.S. Active, 'additional' as a Transport Officer in October 1873 until May 1874. He was the Senior Transport Officer afloat at Cape Castle during the Ashantee Campaign 1874, receiving the Ashantee 1873-74 medal without clasp for services aboard H.M.S. Active. He completed his service aboard H.M. Ships Flying Fish (1874-78) and Trincomalee (1880-83), and then was with the Coast Guard Service until 1886. He retired with the rank of Captain on 19 September 1889, and died on 23 February 1892.