Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas (Part I)

Four: Major-General W. B. Langford, Royal Marine Light Infantry, who was landed in command of all Royal Marine detachments from the various ships present in New Zealand 1845-46, and later fought with the British Legion in the Carlist war

China 1842 (W. B. Langford Bt. Major, Royal Marines.); New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1845 to 1846 (Captn. W. B. Langford, R.M., H.M.S. North Star) officially impressed naming; Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; Spain, Carlist, Order of Maria Isabela Luisa, silver cross with two unofficial slide bars inscribed ‘YRUN’ and ‘HERNANI’, some very light contact marks, otherwise nearly extremely fine (4) £4,000-£5,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Collection

Alan Hall Collection, June 2000.

3 Royal Marine Officers were awarded the New Zealand War Medal with Reverse Dated 1845-46.

William Bookey Langford entered the Royal Marines as a 2nd Lieutenant at the Portsmouth Division Headquarters on 22 January 1828. He embarked aboard his first ship H.M.S. Melville on 18 September 1829 and remained in this vessel until 1 October 1831 at which time he returned to the Portsmouth Division Headquarters. He remained on shore until he was posted to Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven on 5 July 1834. On his return to the Portsmouth Divison Headquarters on 7 July 1835, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 22 March 1836, and in this rank he was posted to the Plymouth Division Headquarters on 23 March 1836.

He remained in this posting until he joined the Royal Marine Battalion on the north coast of Spain on 27 June 1836. He served in this posting for four years and was heavily engaged in numerous field actions during what was to become known as the Carlist War. The Royal Marines fought with the British Legion led by Colonel de Lacy Evans, with the local rank of General, and the Government troops known as 'Christinos'. The first contingent of the Royal Marine Battalion landed in San Sebastian from the steamer Royal Tar on 10 July 1835; their strength was slowly built up and in January 1836 it took to the field following the arrival of the Franco Algerine Legion and attacked Arlaban some miles to the north east of Vittoria.

Thanks to the strong support of a British Naval Squadron under the Command of Commodore Lord John Hay, the Christinos maintained a strong position on the Spanish north coast. The Royal Marine Battalion was commanded by Major John Owen. On 15 May 1836, the town of San Sebastian was attacked and after a severe fight the Carlist troops were driven from their entrenchments. Following this action detachments of the Royal Marine Brigade were frequently sent on 'special service' to the surrounding area so that the enemy's strength and position might be accurately assessed. In carrying out these operations the small detachment was frequently under fire but gave as good as it got. Captain Langford who commanded a number of these scouting sorties is recorded on his service sheet as being present at the general field action at Toutarabia on 11 July 1836, and also at the general action at Hernani on 16 March 1837, and various minor affairs during the campaign.

On his return to England he was posted to the Portsmouth Division Headquarters on 6 September 1840, but was soon re-embarked aboard H.M.S. North Star for service on the China and Pacific station. During his service in the North Star he took part in the closing stages of the first China war of 1842. He was present in July 1842 at the attack on the Chinese entrenched camp, the storming and capture of the city of Chin Keang Foo at the entrance of the South Grand Canal on the Yangtse Kiang River, and the blockage of the Woo song River. For these services he received the 1st China War Medal.

On the cessation of hostilities North Star sailed for more southern waters and was part of a small squadron of naval ships off the New Zealand coast where, at the outbreak of hostilities, he was landed in command of all Royal Marine Detachments from the various ships present. In addition he was placed in command of a Detachment of troops from the 96th Regiment and was actively employed in the field against the insurgent chiefs whose strongly stockaded pahs or native villages were successfully attacked and destroyed. He was much praised for his gallantry and was Mentioned in the Despatches which were published in the London Gazette, and for his services received the Brevet of Major on 7 July 1846.

On returning to England and paying off from North Star he was appointed to the Chatham Division Headquarters on 9 September 1846, serving in this posting until he was transferred to recruiting duties in Stirling and then Chelmsford on 1 December 1852, then to Antrim in Ireland on 19 June 1853, and finally to Ware on 3 July 1853. Following these services he was reappointed to the Chatham Division Headquarters on 1 October 1853.

He was next embarked on 12 December 1853, for service in the Baltic Campaign aboard Boscawen. He was later landed for the attack on Bomarsund in the Aland Islands on 8 August 1854, where he commanded a Battalion of Royal Marines. The fortress of Bomarsund put up a spirited resistance and it was not until eight days later on 16 August that the citadel finally surrendered. For his services during the Baltic campaign he was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 20 June 1854 and to full Lieutenant-Colonel on 14 July 1855.

He returned to the Portsmouth Division Headquarters on 30 August 1855, and was promoted to 3rd Colonel Commandant on 14 July 1858. Placed on the Retired List on 10 August 1858, after 30 years' service, he was promoted on the Retired List to Major-General on 24 August 1858. He was awarded a Greenwich Hospital Pension on 7 August 1873, and died on 3 September 1890, aged 80 years.