Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

China 1842 (W. Kendall, Lieut. H.M.S. Nimrod) original suspension, very fine £1800-2200

Walter Kendall entered the Navy on 29 November 1827, passed his examination in 1835, and served as Mate of the Nimrod 20, Captain Charles Anstruther Barlow, during the operations of March and May, 1841, against Canton, where he gained the character of being a very deserving officer, but had the misfortune to lose a leg - vide London Gazette 8 October 1841:

‘It is with deep regret that I have to mention the loss of Lieutenant Fox, of H.M.S. Nimrod, a most promising young officer attached to Captain Barlow’s battalion of seamen, who fell at the storm of the western forts. Mr. Walter Kendall, mate of the same ship, a very deserving officer, lost his leg, I am sorry to add, at the same time.’ (Despatch of Major-General H. Gough, Commanding Expeditionary Force, Head Quarters, Ship Marion, Canton River, proceeding to Hong Kong, June 3, 1841).

‘The two officers who had fallen, Major Becher of the Indian Army, Deputy Quarter Master General, a very old officer who had served ably in the Burmese War, and Lieutenant Fox, first of the Nimrod, have united the regret of all by their characters and services. The same shot took off the legs of Lieutenant Fox and of Mr. Kendal (sic) his shipmate, the gunnery mate of the Nimrod; the former fell a victim to his wound, the latter has survived amputation. I thought it would gratify Mr. Kendal to give him an acting commission as Lieut. of the Nimrod in Lieut. Fox’s vacancy, on the field of battle, until your pleasure is known - though his wound will disable him from doing his duty perhaps for some time, and may oblige him to go home.’ (Despatch of Captain Sir H. Le Fleming Senhouse, K.C.H., Heights above Canton, May 29th, 1841).

Being in consequence promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, by commission dated 8 June 1841, Kendall was afterwards appointed, in that capacity, 10 October 1842, to the Excellent gunnery ship at Portsmouth, Captain Sir Thomas Hastings, and 31 January 1843, to the Caledonia 120, flag-ship of Sir David Milne at Devonport. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 13 March 1845, and was afterwards placed on half-pay.