Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private Thomas Hanks, Royal Marines

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Algiers (Thos. Hanks); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., Anchor obverse with the rare ‘inverted’ reverse (Thomas Hanks, Late Private Marine, Portsmouth Division, 21 Years) edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine (2) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the collection formed by Captain W. A. Tinlin, M.C., late 14th London Regiment (1880-1965).

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Collection

Two men with these names received the N.G.S. medal, both with the clasp for Algiers, and both serving as Privates with the Royal Marines, one aboard the Queen Charlotte, the other aboard the Superb.

Thomas Hanks received his L.S. & G.C. Medal on 15 May 1833. It is the earliest of seven known examples issued with the ‘inverted’ reverse, where the circumferential words ‘For Long Service and Good Conduct’ commence at one o’clock rather than the normal seven o’clock, the last known example being issued in July 1835. It is also one of about eight known examples that include the word ‘Late’ in the recipient’s naming details. The need for the occasional inclusion of ‘Late’ disappeared at the end of 1833 when it was decided that all future awards of the L.S. & G.C. Medal were to be presented in front of the ship’s company, before being ‘paid off’, or, in the case of Royal Marines, on the general parade in front of the whole Division.

Thomas Hanks was born in the Parish of Tardibig [Tardebigge] in the county of Worcester and enlisted for the Royal Marines at Kidderminster on 29 April 1810, aged 16 years, for a bounty of eight guineas.