Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China 1842 (H. C. Hawkins, Lieut. H.M.S. Blenheim) original straight bar suspension, toned, very fine £1200-1400

Henry Caesar Hawkins was born in the Parish of Kelston, Somerset, on 17 May 1809, son of Sir John Caesar Hawkins, Bart. Educated as the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, he was appointed as Volunteer to H.M.S. Blanche, for service on the South American Station, 6 May 1824. He was appointed Midshipman in May 1825 and joined H.M.S. Maidstone in October 1827. Whilst in that vessel he passed for the rank of Lieutenant and received automatic promotion to Mate, 19 May 1828. After an uneventful period of service in various vessels as a Mate, he received his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant in September 1838, and the following year was appointed to the Blenheim on the China and East Indies station.

He was in action at Amoy and the fortified Island of Kolangsoo in August 1841, and landed with the right Column under the command of Captain Herbert, with Captain Bourchier commanding the Battalion of Seamen present, at Chinghae on 10 October 1841. Hawkins was not only mentioned in in Rear Admiral W. Parker’s Despatch (London Gazette 1842, p396) but was also promoted to Commander ‘in consequence of the recent war in China’ (London Gazette 1842, p3821). He was promoted to Commander in December 1842 and discharged to Shore on half-pay the following March. He was employed in Coast Guard Service for 5 years from March 1851 and retired with promotion to Retired Captain in March 1851.