Four: Baltic 1854-55 (J. Bates, H.M.S. Stromboli); Crimea 1854-55, 3 clasps, Balaklava, Sebastopol, Azoff (H.M.S. Stromboli) the first clasp a contemporary copy to which he is not entitled; China 1857-60, 3 clasps, Canton 1857, Taku Forts 1858, Taku Forts 1860 (H.M.S. Stromboli); Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue (H.M.S. Stromboli) all four with the same contemporary engraved naming, contact marks, therefore nearly very fine (4)

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

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James Bates was born in Woolwich, Kent, and joined the service as a Boy 1st Class aboard H.M.S. STROMBOLI on 14 February 1854, aged 17 years. He served with this rating in the Baltic, Crimea and Sea of Azoff, and as an Able Seaman aboard H.M.S. FURIOUS in the China campaign. He was promoted to Acting Boatswain 3rd Class R.N. on 1 September 1869.

This group, when acquired from a Sotheby sale in January 1969, was accompanied by the Q.S.A. medal awarded to his son Leading Shipwright G. E. Bates, H.M.S. TERRIBLE.