Five: Gunner’s Mate John James, Royal Navy

Baltic 1854-55 (Jno. James. H.M.S. Pss. Royal.) contemporary engraved naming; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Jno. James. H.M.S. Pss. Royal.) contemporary engraved naming as before; New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1863 to 1864 (J. James , Gunrs. Mate., H.M.S. Curacoa); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (Jn. James Gunrs. Mte. H.M.S. Curacoa 21 Yrs.); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed, good very fine or better (5) £2,600-£3,000

Provenance: Jubilee Collection, Glendining’s, May 1992.

John James was born at Southwall, Suffolk, on 11 December 1819. He is first traced as an Able Seaman aboard H.M.S. Rodney from 14 July 1846 to 8 March 1849, and then Phaeton from 7 May 1850 to 19 February 1852. He took passage in Growler, 1-19 September, before joining Excellent on 20 September 1852, and volunteered for Continuous Service on 1 July 1853. He joined Princess Royal as Able Seaman on 6 November 1853 and was present in this ship in the Baltic operations of 1854. He remained in this ship to serve in the Crimea and operations before Sebastopol in 1854-55, being advanced to Coxswain of the Cutter on 12 February 1854. He returned to Excellent on 29 July 1856, before joining Diadem as Coxswain of the Pinnace on 28 August 1857 and advanced to Captain of the Fore Top on 28 March 1858, returning to Excellent again on 21 October 1858. He next joined Mersey on 9 March 1859, advancing to Captain of the Afterguard two days later, and to Gunner’s Mate on 1 May 1860. After a further spell at Excellent, no doubt honing his gunnery skills, he was Gunner’s Mate in Harrier from 20 March to 6 October 1863, when he joined Curacoa in the same rate. The Waikato war had broken out in 1863 whilst he was serving in Harrier, but it was for his service aboard Curacoa at Rangiriri on 20 November 1863, Te Awamutu and Rangiawhia, 21/22 February 1864, and the Gate Pah on 29 April 1864, that he qualified for the New Zealand medal. He was discharged to Pension from Curacoa on 12 February 1867, and received his Medal and Gratuity on 15 February 1867.

Sold with copied record of service.