NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Java (S. Stocker, Master's Mate) nearly extremely

Stephen Stocker, Master's Mate aboard H.M.S. Bucephalus.

This officer entered the Navy in 1805, as A.B. aboard the Scorpion, and after blockading the Texel and assisting at the capture on 11 April 1805, of the Dutch schooner L 'Honneur, he sailed with a convoy, early in 1806, for the West Indies. While serving in the Scorpion he fell from the main futtock-shrouds to the deck, owing to a rat-line giving way, and injured his right leg. Cruising on the West Indies, North American and Home stations, Scorpion made prize of several vessels including the privateers Bourgainville, La Glaneuse, and Le Glaneur. Stocker joined the Bucephalus in April 1809, as Midshipman, and after commanding a boat in the attack on Flushing, he sailed for the East Indies. He assisted, in 1810, at the capture of Mauritius, and in 1811 again had charge of a boat at the reduction of Java. In the Hecate and Phoenix Stocker accompanied a highly successful expedition against the pirates of Palembang, and aided in forming a settlement on the island of Banca. In the Hecate he united, and had command of a boat, in a series of arduous operations against the Sultan of Sambas, in Borneo, whose fortifications were destroyed. He was promoted Lieutenant on 1 February 1815. Full details of these and subsequent services will be found in O'Byrne's Naval Biography. Lieutenant Stocker was placed on the half pay on 10 August 1846.