India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Persia (Actg. Master C. F. French, Lady Falkland) suspension a little slack, otherwise very fine

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

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Prior to joining the Indian Navy as a 1st Class 2nd Master in March 1845 when aged 22 years, he had been apprenticed and trained for 7 years ‘in one of the first Mercantile employs out of London.’ He inaugurated the Freight Agency at Sukkur in 1847, and later served at Mooltan immediately after the siege and subsequently commanded several vessels of the Indus Flotilla. In 1857 he commanded the LADY FALKLAND, chartered from the Bombay Steam Navigation Company, obtaining mention in the despatches of General John Jacob C.B. for his zealous conduct and valuable service afforded the Persian Field Force. When the disbandment of the Indian Navy was imminent he wrote a Memorial (June 1862) seeking a pension or increased gratuity, quoting his service of seventeen years in unhealthy locale which had permanently injured his constitution, especially since his past two years time at Khetty had imperilled his life whilst suffering from a severe organic disease.