Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Java (James Puckford, Midshipman.) good very fine £1600-1800

Provenance: Sotheby, July 1991.

James Puckford entered the Navy on 10 June 1810, as Midshipman, on board the Nisus 38, Captains Philip Beaver and Charles Marsh Schomberg, under the former of whom he assisted at the reduction of the Isles of France and Java. He continued to serve on the Cape station until the early part of 1814, between which period and June 1822, he was employed in North America and the Channel, at St. Helena, and in South America in the Liffey 50, Captain John Hancock, Newcastle 60, bearing the flag of Sir Pulteney Malcolm, Andromache 38, Captain William Henry Shirreff, and Superb 74, Captain Adam Mackenzie. Of the ship last mentioned he became an acting and a confirmed Lieutenant 22 February and 8 September 1821. His subsequent appointments were – 13 November 1822 to the Valorous 26, Captain James Murray, fitting for the West Indies, whence he returned in June 1824 – and, 14 September 1824, to the Chanticleer 10, commanded by Captain Charles James Hope Johnstone, for a short time by himself as Acting-Commander, and by Captain John Balfour Maxwell, on the Mediterranean station. He was advanced Commander on his arrival in England, 15 December 1827, and has since been on half-pay.

Commander Puckford married, 10 November 1834, Mary, daughter of the Rev. J. F. Muckston, D.D., Prebendary of Lichfield, by whom he had issue one daughter.