The rare ‘Algiers’ and ‘Anchor’ type L.S. & G.C. pair awarded to Colour Sergeant J. Pickford, Royal Marine Artillery

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Algiers (James Pickford.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., Anchor obverse with scarce ‘inverted’ reverse (James Pickford Colour Serjeant Royal Marine Artillery 21 Years) pierced with two rings for suspension, together with a small bronze medallet to commemorate the action off Algiers, minor edge nicks, generally very fine or better (3) £3,000-£4,000

Christie’s, July 1983.

Awards of the L.S. & G.C. medal issued between 1833 and 1835 were struck with the reverse accidentally inverted relative to the obverse. Fewer than 20 examples from this period are known to have survived today, and even fewer in combination with the Naval General Service Medal.

James Pickford was born in Cameley, Somerset. He attested for the Royal Marine Artillery at Wells in March 1814, to join the Portsmouth Division. Pickford advanced to Corporal in November 1828, and to Sergeant in January 1834. His service included with H.M.S. Impregnable during the bombardment of Algiers on 27 August 1816. The latter occupied a vulnerable position during the bombardment and was exposed to the concentrated fire from shore batteries and an accurate raking fire from the heavily armed Lighthouse Battery. The Impregnable lost nearly a quarter of her complement, suffering 50 killed and 164 wounded as a consequence of the action.

Pickford advanced to Colour Sergeant, and served with H.M.S. Salamander from March 1834. The ship was paid off on 3 March 1835, and Pickford was discharged to pension 21 May 1835 (awarded L.S. & G.C. in May 1835, with a Gratuity of £7). Although the Royal Marine Artillery was disbanded in 1832, two Artillery Companies remained in being including Pirckford’s 2nd Company - and they were attached to the Portsmouth Division.

After service, Pickford was employed as the Master of the Catherington Union Workhouse in Horndean, Hampshire, in the 1850s. He continued to be employed in that capacity for the next 20 years, and died aged 85 in Catherington, Hampshire, in 1880.

Sold with copied research.