Three: Able Seaman J. J. Littleton, Royal Navy

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, no clasp (J. Littleton. A.B., H.M.S. Woodlark.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (J. J. Littleton, A.B. H.M.S. Woodlark.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, unnamed as issued, mounted as originally worn, contact marks, nearly very fine or better (3) £300-£400

62 ‘Burma 1885-7’ clasps awarded to H.M.S. Woodlark.

John Joseph Littleton was born in Reading, Berkshire, on 23 May 1863 and entered naval service on 20 May 1879 as a Boy 2nd Class in H.M.S. Boscawen, in which he saw advancement to Boy 1st Class. Having been promoted to Able Seaman on 1 January 1883, in H.M.S. London, he was borne in Woodlark from 24 February 1884 to 25 March 1887, including during the Egyptian and Burmese operations. H.M.S. Woodlark was the only British ship at Rangoon in October 1885 when the troubles in Burma began. Men from the ship and others formed a Naval Brigade under the command of Captain Clutterbuck which, on 25 November 1885, marched to and took over King Thebaw’s royal palace. Discharged in June 1898 to Plymouth Hospital, he rejoined for war service on 2 August 1914, serving on H.M.S. Assistance from 26 November 1915 to 28 March 1918.