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

Three: Crimea 1854-55, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued; New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated ‘1860 to 1861’ (R. W. Parish, Sectry., H.M.S. Pelorus) impressed naming; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed and fitted with Crimea suspension, the first with contact marks, otherwise very fine and better (3)

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

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Born on 6 August 1837. First entered as an Assistant Clerk aboard H.M.S. HIMALAYA on 11 January 1855, to serve in the Crimea prior to joining H.M.S. MEANDER on 2 September 1856, where he received promotion to Clerk in January 1857 when joining H.M.S. IRIS and to Assistant Paymaster on 14 January 1860. His next appointment was to H.M.S. PELORUS as Acting Secretary to Commodore F. B. P. Seymour on 11 December 1860 which was to last for two years.

He was ashore in New Zealand with the Naval Brigade from 11 December 1860 until 18 February 1861, and 20 February 1861 to 2 April 1861. Took part, with ten other officers from PELORUS, in the Action on 29 December 1861 near Kairau against the pah at Matoriko, overlooking the River Waitara. The combined force numbered 900 of whom 132 were in the Naval Brigade, led by Commodore F. Beauchamp Seymour, which occupied this enemy's stronghold. His Captain spoke very highly of the activities of Secretary Parish.

Promoted to Paymaster on 5 April 1867, he served in his new rank aboard H.M. Ships NIOBE (1868-7 l ), IMPLACABLE ( l 874-76), AUDACIOUS (1877-79), CAMBRIDGE (1879-82) and SUPERB (1883-87) where he received promotion to Fleet Paymaster on 17 February 1886. He retired with the rank of Paymaster in Chief on 26 October 1891, and died in April 1917.