Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Algiers (George Cox.) original ribbon, dark toned, good very fine and better £900-£1,100

Confirmed as a Private Royal Marines aboard H.M.S. Albion at Algiers.

George Cox was born in Hayton, Nottinghamshire in 1794, and joined the Chatham Division of the Royal Marines in June 1810 and was soon assigned to H.M.S. Vengeur. He served in her from August 1810 until December 1815, during which time he participated in some of the later actions of the war of 1812, most notably the defeat of the British at the battle of New Orleans in January 1815 and, although this was a defeat, Brevet Major Adair who led the Marine contingent from Vengeur, earned a C.B. for leading the successful capture of the left side of the Mississippi River and taking 17 cannon during the battle. Four weeks later, the Marines from the ship participated in the 2nd battle of Fort Bowyer near Mobile, Alabama, which was the last battle of the war. The peace had been declared in December 1814 but word did not reach the Marines until the day after the battle.

During his time on Vengeur, he served under several captains who had notable careers: Thomas Brown, Sir James Brisbane (who captained the Queen Charlotte at Algiers) and Sir Tristam Ricketts.

His next service afloat was with H.M.S. Albion in which ship he participated in the bombardment of Algiers. He was invalided out in December 1816 and, not long after, married 17-year-old Mary Cater, from Plymouth in 1818, and together they had 10 children. He died in October 1873 in Stoke Damerel, Devon.