Auction Catalogue

28 June 2000

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Regus Conference Centre  12 St James Square  London  SW1Y 4RB

Lot

№ 1036

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28 June 2000

Hammer Price:
£950

Four: Sapper James Pitts, Royal Engineers

Baltic 1854-55 (Corpl., Rl. Saprs. & Mnrs.) officially impressed naming; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (10th Compy. R.E.) contemporary engraved naming; China 1857-60, 2 clasps, Taku Forts 1860, Pekin 1860 (Sapper, 10th C. Royal Engrs.) officially impressed naming, suspension post repaired; Turkish Crimea, British issue, unnamed, contact wear and polishing, otherwise nearly very fine and a very rare group (4) £800-1000

James Pitts attested as a Private for the Royal Sappers and Miners on 11 June 1847. He received steady promotion throughout the next decade becoming Colour-Sergeant in February 1856. However, he was tried and reduced to the rank of Sapper in August 1860 for being ‘Drunk on the line of march’ and, although he was promoted to 2nd Corporal in July 1862, he was again tried and reduced for ‘Absence’ in May 1863, and was discharged in the rank of Sapper on 12 January 1869. His discharge papers describe his conduct as being ‘good’, and confirm all medals and clasps.