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

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1847 (F. M. Johnson, Bos. Mate, H.M.S. Inflexible) officially impressed naming, small edge bruise, otherwise extremely fine and rare £2,400-£2,800

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.

Only 20 Medals issued with this reverse date, 5 Officers, 9 ratings and 6 Royal Marines, all serving aboard H.M.S. Inflexible.

Frederick Johnson (alias John Johnson) was born in the Parish of Stoke Charles, near Plymouth, Devon. His date of birth is not recorded on his service sheet, but assuming that he was aged 55 when he retired in August 1872 as a 1st Class Bosun this would suggest that he was born in 1818. This fits well with him joining his first recorded ship H.M.S. Partridge on 25 September 1839, as an Able Seaman, aged 21. He served on Partridge for three years 176 days, of which 113 days were surprisingly in the rate of Musician. He paid off from Partridge on 26 June 1843, and signed on aboard Penelope on 14 October as Able Seaman. Two weeks later he was rated Captain of the Main Mast. He continued to serve in this rate until paid off on 20 May 1846, having spent two years 49 days on board.

On 13 July 1846, he joined Inflexible as a Bosun's Mate and in this vessel sailed for the Pacific. Whilst aboard Inflexible a small Naval Brigade was landed for service on shore in New Zealand and took part in a number of skirmishes in support of the military operations and fought in the battle of Wanganui on 19 May 1847. On Inflexible’s return to England he paid off on 28 September 1849. By Admiralty Order No. 2348 he was allowed to change his name to Frederick H. Johnson. He was appointed a Bosun 3rd Class on 29 September 1849, and in this rank he joined Poictiers and served in this vessel for nearly a year before leaving her on 30 August 1850. He subsequently served aboard the following ships; Cumberland, 31 August 1850 to 6 January 1851, Boscawen, 7 January 1851 to 26 August 1852, Daring, 27 August 1852 to 24 October 1856, and Wellesley, 25 October 1852 to 27 January 1857. Whilst in the latter vessel he was promoted to Bosun 2nd Class on 28 January 1857. He then served aboard Cressey, 9 March to 24 April 1859, Cadmus, 10 May 1859 to 26 July 1860, Imaum, 27 July to 27 September 1860, and Wellesley, 28 September 1860. Whilst in this ship he was promoted to Bosun 1st Class on 17 July 1862. In this rank he served aboard Royal Oak, 30 April to 20 May 1863, Wellesley, 21 May 1863 to 5 January 1865, Pembroke, 6 January 1865 to 31 December 1867, Wellesley, 1 January to 31 March 1868, Cumberland 1 April to 31 December 1868. His last appointment was to Reserve on 1 January 1869, and on 31 August 1872 he was invalided to shore. His service records shows that he served in total 27 years 93 days of which 17 years 248 days were as a Warrant Officer.

Sold with copied record of service.