Auction Catalogue

19 & 20 March 2008

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 192

.

20 March 2008

Hammer Price:
£1,800

China 1842 (P. A. Helpman, Lieut. H.M.S. Columbine), with replacement silver mount and contemporary gold swivel straight bar suspension, with gold buckle and brooch bar, edge bruising, very fine £750-850

Philip Augustus Helpman entered the Royal Navy on 19 July 1821; passed his examination in 1828 and obtained his first commission on 26 March 1839, following service aboard the gig Fair Rosamund and an attack on a pirate brig off Benin. On 3 January 1840 he became an Additional- Lieutenant of the Wellesley, on the East India Station; and on 19 Jan. 1841, was there appointed to the Columbine. He served in the China campaign, where, besides sharing in the actions of May 1841 against Canton, he served on shore in those of March 1842 against Tsekee, and further participated in the attack of 16 June on the batteries at Woosung. For his services in the campaign Helpman was advanced to the rank of Commander on 23 December 1842. On 20 Feb. 1846 he was appointed Coast Guard Inspecting Commander at Sunderland and placed on Retired Pay on 5 February 1858.

King John VI of Portugal's Jewel: Portrait Badges Awarded to Officers of H.M. Ships Windsor Castle and Lively for a 'Nasty Occurrence'. Ref K. Douglas-Morris Naval Medals 1793-1856, p. 209 records the names and ranks of all officers aboard H.M. Ships Windsor Castle and Lively on 13 May 1824, and therefore probable recipients of King John VI of Portugal's 'Portrait Badges'. Philip Helpman is shown as Midshipman on the Windsor Castle with a footnote for his entitlement to the China Medal 1842. Whilst the Portuguese Jewel is not known to Helpman, other ‘Portrait Badges’ are known to other Midshipmen on the Windsor Castle and it is therefore possible that Helpman also received one. Sold with copied research.