The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Indian Mutiny 1857-58, no clasp (Boatswain Chas. Band, Pearl) good very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Charles Band gave his age as only 14 years when he joined the service aboard H.M.S. HYDRA in February 1839, and was consequently rated Boy 2nd Class. However, when he signed on as a Continuous Service man in 1854 it became apparent that he had been born on 8 December 1821, thus in reality 18 years when joining. He was advanced to A.B. aboard VANGUARD in July 1843, served a full commission aboard EURYDICE (1843-46), and advanced to Petty Officer status as Captain of the Mast and Fore Top whilst aboard his next vessel ELECTRA (1846-54). During the next two years aboard ALGIERS as a Bosun’s Mate he earned the Baltic and Crimean War medals and Sebastopol clasp. He was drafted to PEARL on 28 February 1858, and paid off on 16 June 1859. He was finally pensioned after 21 years service on 14 November 1862 without award of the L.S. & G.C. medal.

On the official Indian Mutiny medal roll he was classified as a “Boatswain R.N.”, an error consequently transferred to the details on the edge of his medal. He was in fact a “Boatswain’s Mate” (Ship’s Book No 163) at this time. Richard Coley was the Boatswain R.N. of PEARL, who also earned this campaign medal.