Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Captain J. N. Lalor, Royal Marine Light Infantry and Niger Coast Protectorate Force, who, having won “mentions” for the capture of two Arab dhows off Zanzibar in 1890, and his cool conduct and bravery at Witu later that year, was mortally wounded in the Alecto’s steam cutter while carrying out a reconnaissance of Brohemie Creek on the Benin River in 1894

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 2 clasps, Suakin 1885, Tofrek (Lieut., R.M.L.I.); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 2 clasps, Benin River 1894, Witu 1890 (Niger Coast Prot.); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, the “Witu 1890” clasp loose on riband, minor contact marks, very fine and better (3) £2800-3200

James Nicholas Lalor was born in Dublin in April 1863 and was commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in September 1882. Appointed an Instructor of Gunnery in April 1890, and advanced to Captain in July 1893, he first saw active service with the Royal Marine Battalion defending Suakin. He was susequently engaged in the operations in Eastern Sudan 1884-85, being present at the action at Hasheen on 20 March 1885, the attack on Sir J. McNeill’s zareba at Tulufik on the 22 March, the attack on the square of Guards and Marines near Tofrek on 24 March, and at the taking and burning of Tamaai on 3 April, being severely wounded during the latter engagement.

Lalor next served in the Indian Ocean in command of cruising boats, and was mentioned in despatches in 1890 for the capture of two Arab dhows off Pemba Island and Zanzibar. He then served with the Royal Marine Battalion that formed part of the Naval Brigade under Vice-Admiral Sir E. R. Freemantle in the punitive expedition against the Sultan of Witu, and won a second “mention” for his deeds in the attack along the Witu road, the Admiral noting he was ‘struck with the cool conduct of the Marines under Lieutenant-Colonel Poole and Lieutenant Lalor, R.M.L.I., a considerable body of the enemy being at one time in front of them at less than 200 yards’. He further noted that he was ‘bounded to mention specially Lieutenant W. C. Slater in command of the Field Guns, and Lieutenants E. M. Hewett and A. T. Hunt, R.N. and Lieutenant James N. Lalor, R.M.L.I. as efficient Company Officers’.

Having then been seconded for service with the Royal Niger Coast Protectorate, in the rank of Captain, Lalor took part in the Benin River Expedition of 1894 against Chief Nanna of Brohemie Town, Brohemie Creek. In an attempt to reconnoitre the enemy’s positions, the steam cutter from H.M.S. Alecto was sent up the creek under Lieutenant-Commander Heugh, accompanied by Major C. Crawford, Consular Agent to the Niger Coast Protectorate, Lalor, six ratings and a native interpreter. However, the cutter came under fire from a battery of concealed guns, which, though at length silenced by rockets, killed the coxswain and wounded others, Lalor mortally so - the cutter in a sinking state barely made it back to the Alecto. For this action Heugh was awarded the D.S.O., two ratings the C.G.M. and Lalor a posthumous mention in despatches - ‘Captain Lalor also, though so severely wounded, was endeavouring to support me (Heugh) in bringing the boat out of this difficulty’; sold with copied services papers and extracts of Vice-Admiral Freemantle’s despatches for the Witu Expedition of 1890 and Rear-Admiral Bedford and Lieutenant-Commander Heugh’s despatches for the Benin River Expedition of 1894.