Orders, Decorations and Medals

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Syria (M. H. Rodney, Mate) edge bruising and contact wear, otherwise better than good fine £600-700

Mortimer Harley Rodney was born on 23 February 1817, eldest son of the Hon Mortimer Rodney (brother of Lord Rodney). He served as a College Mate aboard the Talbot in the operations on the coast of Syria, including the bombardment of St Jean d’Acre, in recognition of which services he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 4 November 1840. On 19 August 1845, he commanded the Cruizer’s pinnace and served with the boats of the squadron, carrying altogether 530 officers, seamen, and marines, at the destruction, under Captain Charles Talbot, of the piratical settlement of Malloodoo, on the north end of the island of Borneo, where the British encountered a desperate opposition and sustained a loss of 6 men killed and 15 wounded. Rodney was mentioned in the published despatches for this action. He was promoted to Commander in October 1856 and to Retired Captain in October 1871.