Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Commr. Edwd. Danvers, Hoorungotta Str.) 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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Edward Danvers entered into the employ of the Government, and in particular the Bengal Marine Department, on 1 December 1848. He was appointed Acting 3rd Officer of the steamer Fire Queen, and on 6 January 1852, Third Officer of the steamer Enterprise. On 26 May 1852 he was appointed Chief (later called Second) Officer of the steamer Mohanuddy; on 15 April 1854 to the Shoe Gong as Third Officer; and on 13 March 1856, in the same rank on the steamer Fire Queen. He was appointed Acting Commander of the Goomtee cargo boat on 21 June 1857.

His date of seniority as Acting Commander is given as 1 April 1857, and as Commander as 4 August 1858. In July 1858 he is shown as Commander of the Ferry boat Benares, and in October 1858 as Acting Commander of the steamer Hoorungotta. It was whilst in this latter vessel that Danvers qualified for his Indian Mutiny medal, one of only 4 officers and 4 seamen shown on the roll for this vessel.

The various directories show his subsequent appointments as Commander of the Inland steamer Hoorungotta in 1859-60, described as a vessel of 200 tons and 60 h.p., of the Bengal Marine; as Commander of the Government Inland steamer Jaboona in 1861, a vessel of 279 tons and 120 h.p.; as Commander of the Government steamer Adjai in 1863, a vessel of 292 tons and 60 h.p.; and as Captain of the steamer Industry in 1864, a 120 h.p. vessel belonging to the Bengal River Company, Ltd. Thacker’s Bengal Directory of 1865 shows him as Assistant Superintendent of Police on the East Indian Railway, but his name does not appear after 1867.

Sold with research notes by John Tamplin.