Pair: Lieutenant J. W. L. Oakes, Royal Navy

South Africa 1834-53 (Midshipman J. W. L. Oakes.; China 1857-60, no clasp, unnamed as issued, mounted for wearing from a contemporary double ribbon brooch buckle, light contact marks and edge bruise to the second, otherwise good very fine (2) £800-£1,000

James W. L. Oakes was born at East Burgholt, Suffolk. He joined H.M.S. Castor as a Naval Cadet from H.M.S. Impregnable on 4 May 1849, and was appointed Midshipman from 4 May 1850 until 12 July 1853 when he was paid off. During this period he saw service in South Africa during the 3rd Kaffir War. He joined H.M.S. Comus on 14 August 1854, and was appointed Acting Lieutenant on 3 June 1856. During his service in Comus he was noted for ‘creditable conduct in operations against Pirates; see letter from Rear Admiral Sir M. Seymour of 30 Septr. 1856’, and took part in the operations in China in 1858, having been confirmed as Lieutenant on 2 December 1856. He finally joined H.M.S. Doris on 4 March 1859 but died on 19 June 1860.