Pair: Master James Saunders, Royal Navy, who served in two expeditions to the Arctic and was Master of H.M.S. Cruizer during the Opium war of 1842

China 1842 (James Saunders, Master. H.M.S. Cruizer) original straight bar suspension; Arctic 1818-55, unnamed as issued, nearly extremely fine (2) £2000-2500

Ex Christie’s November 1986.

Commander James Saunders served as Acting Master of H.M.S. Terror during Captain Back’s Arctic Expedition of 1836-37; held fast in the ice off the North American coast from August 1836, the badly damaged vessel, hardly sea-worthy, limped back in 1837 to the Irish coast where she was beached and abandoned. He joined H.M.S. Cruizer as Master, July 1838 to March 1841, seeing service during the war with China (92 medals to this ship). In April 1849 he was appointed Master Commanding H.M.S. North Star and served in her during the Franklin Search Expedition of 1849-50. He retired on half-pay in the rank of Commander in August 1862, and died on 12 April 1864.