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

A Civil C.B. group of thirteen awarded to Admiral G. A. Ballard, Royal Navy, who was M.I.D and promoted for his command of a Machine Gun Detachment at the battle of Tamaai and again M.I.D. for services in Burma in 1885; he was the only officer to win the R.U.S.I. Gold Medal in successive years

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Civil) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarked London 1912, with ribbon buckle; Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Tamaai (Lieut. G. A. Ballard, R.N. H.M.S. Hecla.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (Lieut. G. A. Ballard, R.N. H.M.S. Woodlark.); China 1900, no clasp (Commr. G. A. Ballard, R.N., H.M.S. Isis.); 1914-15 Star (R. Adml. G. A. Ballard.); British War and Victory Medals (R. Adml. G. A. Ballard.); Jubilee 1897, silver; Coronation 1911; Khedive’s Star, dated 1884; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, 3rd Class neck badge, gold and enamels; Italy, Kingdom, Order of St Maurice & St Lazarus, 3rd Class neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Japan, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Grand Cross, sash badge and breast star, silver-gilt and enamels, with display sash; together with two R.U.S.I. 18 carat gold medals, 45mm, 56.20g and 55.79g, both named ‘To Commander G. A. Ballard, R.N. For Naval Essay 1897’ and ‘...For Naval Essay 1899’ in fitted case, the first ten mounted as worn, light contact marks, otherwise generally good very fine (16) £4,000-£5,000

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

View
Collection

Alan Hall Collection, June 2000.

C.B. (Civil) London Gazette 3 June 1913.

Legion of Honour, 3rd Class London Gazette 21 June 1918.

Order of St Maurice & St Lazarus, 3rd Class London Gazette 17 October 1919.

Order of the Sacred Treasure, 1st Class London Gazette 8 March 1920.

George Alexander Ballard was born in Bombay, India on 7 March 1862, the son of General J. A. Ballard, C.B., Royal Engineers. He entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet aboard Britannia, which he joined on 15 January 1875, at the age of 13. On passing out of Britannia he gained 6 months’ sea time, and was appointed to Resistance in December 1876. He then transferred to Achilles in May 1877, and whilst in this ship he was promoted to Midshipman on 22 June 1877. His next appointment was to Tourmaline in September 1880, and whilst in this ship he was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 22 June 1881. He then joined Excellent in July 1882 for College and Gunnery examination; on passing out, he joined Hecla in March 1883.

During service in Hecla, Ballard was landed in March 1884 for service with the Naval Brigade in the Sudan, and was present at the battle of Tamaai on 14 March, where he commanded a Naval Machine Gun Detachment. He was Mentioned in Despatches and specially promoted to Lieutenant the day after the battle by the Naval Commander in Chief.

In the rank of Lieutenant he next served aboard Euryalus from March 1884; Temeraire from April 1884; and Woodlark from May 1885. Whilst serving in the latter ship in the East Indies, he was specially selected by the Commander-in-Chief Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Richards, K.C.B., to be Naval A.D.C. to General Sir Harry Prendergast during the operations in Burma in 1885-87. He was Mentioned in Despatches and personally thanked by General Prendergast and the India Office, who recommended him for favourable consideration.

On leaving Woodlark in June 1887, Ballard was next afloat in Gorgon, which he joined in July 1887 followed by: Temeraire in October 1887; Medea in July 1891; Audacious in September 1891; Linnet in December 1891; Gibraltar in April 1895; Wildfire in October 1895; and Colossus in May 1896. He was promoted to Commander on 31 December 1897. Following this promotion he was appointed to Isis in April 1899, on the China Station and for service during the Boxer Rebellion, and then President in February 1902 for service with the Naval Intelligence Department.

He was promoted to Captain on 31 December 1903, after serving only six years as a Commander. On promotion he was reappointed to the Naval Intelligence Department as Assistant to the Director. Following this appointment, Ballard joined Euryalus in command from January 1906, and then commanded the following: Royal Arthur from May 1906; Terrible from July 1906; Hampshire from August 1907; Commonwealth from January 1910; and Britannia from December 1910. In January 1912 he returned to the Admiralty for service as Director of the Operations Division. Whilst holding this appointment, Ballard became an A.D.C., to King George V in May 1913, and was made a C.B., Civil Division as he was not holding an active Naval Command.

Ballard was promoted to Rear-Admiral on 27 August 1914 and appointed to the Depot Ship Wallington, based in Immingham, as Rear-Admiral Commanding Patrol Flotillas. In September 1916 he was appointed Admiral Superintendent of Malta Dockyard and held this position until superseded in January 1919. He was promoted to Vice-Admiral on 11 February 1919. At his own request he was placed on the Retired List on 14 June 1921, and was promoted to Retired Admiral on 3 March 1924. He died on 15 September 1948, having reached his 87th year, and remaining the only officer to win the R.U.S.I. Gold Medal on successive years, and one of only two Officers to win the medal twice.

Sold with some 18 Admiralty letters of Appointment to various ships etc.,1875-1911; forwarding letter for Jubilee Medal 1897; ‘permission to wear’ letters for Sacred Treasure 3rd Class (1904), Legion of Honour and St Maurice & St Lazarus; together with various letters of appreciation, photographs and cuttings.