Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Arctic Medal 1818-55 (Edward Cockram R.M.L.I.) contemporary engraved naming on three edges, claw re-fixed with solder and with adapted rectangular silver bar for suspension, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine £1,400-£1,600

Edward Cockram was born in the Parish of Molland, near South Molton, Devon, and enlisted into the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marines at Barnstaple on 8 April 1847, aged 18, a labourer by trade. Following service afloat in H.M. Ships Howe, Vanguard, Alarm, Imaum and Wellesley, he joined Trincomalee on 26 June 1852. In Trincomalee he joined the Pacific Squadron based on Vancouver Island, arriving there in July 1853 after a lengthy cruise around the coasts of South and North America. She then called at Sitka, the Queen Charlotte Islands and Esquimall in the sub-Arctic regions in the autumn of 1853, prior to sailing south again for the winter and arriving at Valparaiso in January 1854. She was in Callao in February and in Honolulu in May, and then headed back to the Arctic region proper, arriving at Port Clarence in North Alaska on 6 July 1854. Here, spent crew from the Arctic Depot Ship Plover were exchanged for several fresh men of Trincomalee. Cockram was one of those chosen and he joined Plover on 10 August 1854, and spent the next four months cruising the northern coasts of Alaska. His discharge papers note, ‘Served in the “Plover” in 1853 (sic), and is in possession of the Arctic Medal. Also in China in 1858, and was present at the Capture of the Taku Forts, is in possession of the China Medal with Clasp for Taku’. Cockram, who served as Acting Corporal from August 1854, transferred to the Pique on 11 November 1854 and sailed for the China Station where subsequently he took part in the capture of the Taku Forts, as stated above. He was discharged from Pique on 16 February 1859, received promotion to Corporal in December 1860, to Sergeant in January 1862, and served ashore until his final discharge from the Royal Marines on 16 April 1868. Sold with copied discharge papers and other research.