Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria including the collection to Naval Artificers formed by JH Deacon

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (Edwd. Eastcott, A.B., H.M.B. Express, 22 Yrs.), edge nicks and light traces of pawnbroker’s mark by suspension claw, good very fine £120-140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals formed by the late Jack Deacon.

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Edward Eastcott was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in December 1850 whilst aboard Her Majesty’s Brig Express.

He was born at Stoke Damerel, Devonport in August 1807 and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 1st Class aboard H.M.S. Ocean in July 1824. Advanced to Able Seaman in November 1831, he appears to have remained employed on the home station in successive schooners and brigs up until being discharged ashore in the winter of 1850 - interestingly his L.S. & G.C. Medal is one of the earliest known post ‘1848’ variety types. But a little over a year later, as a ‘Pensioner’ in his old rate, Eastcott joined the St. George, in which ship he participated in the Baltic operations of 1854-55 and gained Petty Officer status with his appointment to Captain of the Hold. Extraordinarily, in May 1859, aged 52 years, he volunteered for a three year commission in the Pacific aboard the Topaze, and on her return to the U.K. his Captain recommended him for a second L.S. & G.C. Medal, an award which was very probably issued with an inscription to him as ‘Captain of the Hold, H.M.S. Topaze, 34 Years.’ The long served Eastcott was finally discharged from his next ship, the Indus, in early 1867.