Four: Crimea 1854-55, 2 clasps, Sebastopol, Azoff, unnamed as issued, the second clasp loose on ribbin; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Wm. Hayman, Caulkr. “Spartan”); Legion of Honour, 5th class breast badge, silver, gold and enamels, considerable enamel damage and several ball points bent; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed, light contact marks, otherwise good very fine (4)

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

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William Hayman was born at Pensford, Devon, and, after working as a carpenter in civil occupation for some years, joined the service in March 1844, aged 19 years. Over the next eight years he was advanced from Carpenter’s Crew to Captain of the Mast, Carpenter’s Mate and Caulker before being promoted to Acting Carpenter 3rd Class R.N. on 1st January 1853. in October 1854 he joined H.M.S. CURLEW, and participated in the attack on Petroskoi, Sea of Azoff in May 1855. He was awarded the Legion of Honour by the Emperor of France, one of only 23 Naval warrant officers and seamen to be so honoured during the war in the Crimea.

In September 1861 he became a Carpenter 1st Class, and seven years later was reported upon as being ‘a good Carpenter whilst on board, but not steady when out of the ship when on leave’. Not unexpectedly, he was found guilty at a Court Martial on 6 February 1869 for drunkenness, forfeiting one year’s seniority. From 1872 until he was pensioned in 1880 upon reaching the age of 55 years, he superintended artificers training aboard H.M.S. INDUS.