Orders, Decorations and Medals

Jubilee 1897, silver (Capt. John S. Hallifax, R.N., H.M.S. Edgar) good very fine £80-120

John Salwey Hallifax was born in Tipperary, Ireland on 9 March 1846. He entered the Royal Navy as a Naval Cadet on Britannia on 12 June 1860. Serving on the London from June 1861, he was ranked as a Midshipman in September 1862. Promoted to Sub-Lieutenant in March 1866 when on the Racoon, he was advanced to Lieutenant in July 1869 when serving on the Forte. He served on the Woodlark, April 1872-July 1876, and held the rank of Acting Commander during October-December 1873. Appointed a Lieutenant on the Danae, September 1876-July 1881, on which, in August 1877, he was praised for his services in command of landing and firing parties in the Niger Expedition. Hallifax was advanced to Commander on the Hector in September 1882 and attained the rank of Captain, on Half Pay in March 1888. He served as Captain of the Assistance, June 1890--June 1893, Intrepid, July-August 1893, Undaunted, April 1894-May 1897, Edgar, May-July 1897 and Thunderer, March-September 1898. As Captain of the Undaunted, he was tried by court martial for ‘suffering Undaunted to be stranded or hazarded’, and was sentenced to be reprimanded and admonished to be more careful in the future. He was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 31 August 1899 and on 16 June 1901 was granted the rank of Rear-Admiral. He died on 11 December 1904. Sold with copied service papers, a copied photograph of the cruiser Edgar and a quantity of other research.