An Important Collection of Medals for the Maori Wars, 1845-1866

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1845 to 1846 (John T. Tippins A.B. H.M.S. ‘Castor’) officially re-impressed naming, nearly very fine £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Important Collection of Medals for the Maori Wars, 1845-1866.

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John Tippin's medal was issued on 2 August 1872. 160 medals awarded dated 1845-1846 of which 68 were issued to H.M.S. Castor. In total, 69 medals (4 to R.N. officers, 56 to R.N. ratings, 2 to R.M. officers, and 7 to R.M. N.C.Os. and men) were awarded to H.M.S. Castor of which 35 are known, including one with the reverse undated, and the rest dated 1845-1846.

John Thomas Tippins was born on 30 January 1820 at Plymouth. He entered the service in Vernon as Boy 2nd Class on 24 March 1836 until 29 March 1837. He transferred to Seringapatam as Boy 1st Class on 2 April 1837 and remained on board until 20th November 1841, being promoted to Ordinary in December 1839. He then served aboard Cruizer as A.B. from July 1842 until March 1843. From 25 May 1843 to 16 November 1847 he was aboard Castor during the First Maori War. From December 1847 to September 1851 he served aboard Hercules, gaining promotion to Captain Main Top in March 1848. He then became a Seaman Rigger at Chatham Yard from September 1851 to February 1853, when it seems he was Discharged for “neglect of duty and insolence”. He re-entered the service as A.B. in Tyne on 1 March 1853 for Continuous Service (No. 4961) of 7 years from October 1853 until March 1855 when he transferred to Phoenix until November 1855 and then Wanderer until January 1860. Finally he served on Castor again from January 1860 until pensioned to shore on 30 November 1861. He was pensioned on 2 October 1859 with 22 years and 299 days of reckonable service, including 8 years and 220 days as Superior Petty Officer and in possession of two Good Conduct Badges.

Solod with about 10 pages of copies of Continuous Service Engagement, Description Book and relevant pages of Medal Roll for the New Zealand War for H.M.S. Castor.