Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Baltic 1854-55 (J. Matthews, A.B. H.M.S. Porcupine.) contemporary engraved naming, very fine £160-£200

John Matthews was born at Gorey, Jersey, C.I., on 1 March 1831, and joined the Navy in Seaflower as a Boy 2nd Class on 5 June 1846, aged 15 years three months. He joined Porcupine as an Ordinary Seaman on 8 January 1853, being advanced to Able Seaman on 20 November 1854. Porcupine was a wooden paddle vessel that during the Baltic campaign, under Captain H. C. Otter, ‘performed excellent service in piloting the Baltic fleet and making surveys especially near Bomarsund.’ Matthew’s was finally invalided as a Captain’s Coxswain from Impregnable on 11 February 1869 but there is no sign that he was awarded a L.S. & G.C. medal. Sold with copied record of service and other research.