Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The unique campaign pair awarded to Lieutenant J. Roper, West India Regiment, late Midshipman, H.M.S. Zenobia, Indian Navy, who served with the Naval Brigade ashore during the China War 1857-60, and subsequently died at sea, 26/27 March 1874, returning from service in the Ashantee campaign 1873-74

China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Pekin 1860 (Midn. John Roper. H.M.S. Zenobia. I. N.) officially impressed naming; Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (Lieut: J. Roper. 1st. W.I. Regt. 1873-4) minor edge bruising, very fine (2) £600-800

Provenance: Douglas-Morris Collection, DNW, February 1997 (China 1857-60 Medal only).

John Roper was born at Sedbury Hall, Gilling, near Richmond, Yorkshire, in January 1844. He was the second son of R. S. D. R. Roper, a banker and later J.P. for the North Riding of Yorkshire. John Roper was educated at Richmond Grammar School and the Royal Naval Academy, Gosport. He was passed by the Committee of the India Officer as a Cadet for the Indian Navy in April 1859. Roper embarked for Bombay, and aged 15 years and 5 months was appointed Midshipman in June 1859. His service include with the steam Frigate Zenobia, December 1859 - March 1861, during which time he landed in China as part of the Zenobia’s Naval Brigade, and was present at the actions of Chang-kai-Wan and Pa-li-Chian, and as part of the small Naval Brigade that entered Pekin, 13 October 1860. He returned to England, where he was retired in November 1862, with a pension of £60 per annum. The latter was due to the impending disbandment of the Indian Navy in April 1863.

Roper was aged 19 and without a profession, this however did not last for long. Between 1864-66 he was employed on ships transporting Government Emigrants from the UK to Australia and New Zealand. He resumed his military career by purchasing a commission as Ensign in the 3rd Battalion West India Regiment. Roper embarked for Jamaica in 1869, but before he arrived the 3/West India Regiment were disbanded and he was transferred to the 1st Battalion. He advanced to Lieutenant in October 1871, and sailed with the Battalion to be engaged in the Ashantee campaign 1873-74. He was invalided, and died at sea on passage to England 26/27 March 1874. He is commemorated on the Roper Family memorial window at St. Agatha’s Church, Gilling West, Richmond.

China Medals to the Navy were issued unnamed, the only exception being those medals awarded to the Indian Navy, late of the H.E.I.C. service. As the Zenobia was the only Indian Navy ship to receive this clasp, it provides the only named medals with clasp Pekin 1860 awarded to the Navy as a whole. The Indian Navy was abolished in 1863.

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