The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 1)

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Persia (F. E. Manners, Actg. Commr. Semiramis, S.F.) damage to suspension, otherwise very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Frederick Manners joined the Indian Navy as a Midshipman on 11 May 1831. Whilst aboard NAUTILUS during April 1834 engaged in surveying work, his vessel was wrecked on the west coast of the Red Sea, a time when he also contracted smallpox. He was promoted to Lieutenant in October 1841, having already seen much service afloat, and continued to serve aboard various ships until appointed to the TIGRIS in 1849. In the autumn of 1850 an act of piracy by theBeni Yas Arabs in the Persian Gulf necessitated the dispatch of the TIGRIS (under Manners’ command) and EUPHRATES to receive compensatory payment of six hundred dollars and the surrender of the captured vessel and all her stores. Shiekh Tahnoon and his people had hitherto considered that their ships and habitations were safe from the visits of a British man-of-war, and their astonishment at seeing the TIGRIS and EUPHRATES anchored off them, with ports open and guns shotted, all ready to open fire, created an extraordinary impression. The Sheikh caved in to the demands of Lieutenant Manners and the money was paid within a few weeks. In 1851 Lieutenant Manners, whilst commanding VICTORIA (1851-52), was instrumental in saving the crew of a Spanish vessel, which was wrecked on the east coast of Africa, for which he received from the Madrid Government, the Order of Marion della Diadema, and the thanks of the Bombay Government.

During the Persian War Lieutenant Manners initially commanded the FALKLAND (August 1856), and subsequently served aboard CLIVE and VICTORIA, the latter vessel forming part of the Persian War Squadron sailing from Bushire on 8 November 1856. At Mohamra on 26 March 1857, Manners was still commanding VICTORIA, but on this day his vessel was towing FALKLAND, Early that morning, just after Commodore Young had hoisted the ‘close’ pennant on board the FEROOZ, Lieutenant Manners aboard VICTORIA being in advance of the other division, owing to her light draught, took up her station astern of the ASSAYE, but the VICTORIA grounded 200 yards from the mouth of the Huffer Creek, and thus became exposed to a concentrated fire, receiving eighteen shots in her hull, whilst the rigging was much cut away. Commodore Young’s letter dated 27 March 1857 commended the excellent way Manners handled his vessel, and the closeness and precision of his fire, stating that much of the success of the day can be attributed to him. Whilst serving as Acting Commander of VICTORIA, he was also praised for his part by the Governor-General in Council in the Ahwaz operations under Commander J. Rennie conducted on 1 April 1857. Manners appears to have left the Indian Navy before 1860. It has not been established whether he ever served aboard the SEMIRAMIS but it would seem that his medal should more properly have been named to the VICTORIA which he commanded for the most part of the war in Persia.