Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Military General Service 1793-1814, 2 clasps, Maida, Java (James Ross, 78th Foot) minor contact marks, good very fine £1800-2000

Ex Glendining’s February 1920 and Glendining’s September 1963. One of 18 medals with that clasp combination to the 78th Foot.

‘James Ross’ is not an unusual name. It is believed that the James Ross who was awarded the above medal was born in Duffies, Elgin, Moray and enlisted on 19 July 1804, at the age of 32, a Cordwainer by trade. He was first stationed at Fort George, later at Hythe and Shorncliffe before going to Gibraltar late in 1805. From March 1806 the musters show him at Messina, then Alexandria and 'Mediterranean'. At the end of 1807 he sailed to India, being stationed at Goa and Cabo before going by sea to Madras Roads in March 1811. In June he sailed to Wetterveden in Java, then by sea again to Surabaya, Java in September 1811. He returned to Wetterveden in June 1814 and remained there and at Serandole until returning to Fort William (Calcutta) late in 1816. Early in 1817 he returned to Aberdeen, Scotland and was there until moving to Chatham in September 1817. He was discharged as 'Worn out' on 4 February 1818, he was then aged 46 years and intended to reside in Edinburgh. His pension was 9d per day. James Ross died on 3 December 1857.