Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Commr. Wm. E. Sanderson, Myoo Ferry Boat) nearly extremely fine and extremely rare £1,400-£1,800

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

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William Eggleston Sanderson entered into the employ of the Government, and in particular the Bengal Marine, on 20 August 1851. He was appointed a Gunner’s Yeoman on the steamer Nemesis on 22 February 1852. He is first shown in the Bengal Directory of 1855 as a Master Mariner, residing at 12 Kerr’s Lane, Calcutta. In 1857 he is shown as Chief Officer of the steamer Forbes, and in 1858 as commanding the Megna and the Myoo steam ferry boats, presumably in succession. Sanderson took part in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny and at one stage ‘he bravely resisted an attack on the boat at Gampur.’ He received his Indian Mutiny medal as Commander of the Myoo Ferry boat, one of only two medals issued to this vessel, which was described as being of 40 tons. In 1861 he is shown as the Commander of the Tug steamer Andrew Henderson, but his absence from the directories of 1863 indicates that he probably died during 1862.

Sold with research notes by John Tamplin.