Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Syria (R. Duncan, Lieut. R.N.) nearly extremely fine £1200-1500

Robert Duncan entered the Navy on 9 January 1819, passed his examination in 1826, and acquired the rank of Lieutenant on 2 May 1837. He was then appointed to the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Captain Thomas Hastings, under whom he continued until transferred, 1 January 1839, to the Powerful 84, Commodore Sir Charles Napier. Uniting afterwards in the Syrian hostilities, he volunteered and led the mountaineers in a very spirited attack made by the Turkish troops under Sir C. Napier on a strong position occupied by Ibrahim Pacha on the heights near Beyrout, 10 October 1840 (Vide Gazette, 1841, p. 2611). He was gunnery Lieutenant of the Powerful at the bombardment of St. Jean d’Acre, and was in consequence promoted to the rank of Commander by commission dated 4 November 1840. He was placed on the list of retired Captains, 1 April 1856.