Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Canton 1857 (W. Devine. Boy 1 Cl., H.M.S. Cruiser.) naming officially impressed in a later style, very fine £180-£220

Provenance: Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, October 1996.

William Devine was born in Southampton, 29 June 1839, and joined as Boy 2nd Class on 3 March 1854 aboard H.M.S. Star, receiving advancement to Boy 1st Class in November 1856. He transferred to the Cruiser in January 1857 being advanced to Ordinary Seaman in June 1859 prior to being paid off on 1 May 1861. After a commission aboard Wanderer (1861-65) he was drafted into Fisgard as 2nd Captain of the Fore Top in August 1865. Whilst aboard Fisgard he applied for his ‘Discharge by Purchase’, his request being granted upon payment of £12 which led to his discharge on 6 October 1865, some ten months prior to the expiry of his ten year contract on ‘Continuous Service’.