Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The China Medal awarded to Fleet Surgeon J. W. W. Stanton, who besides service in the Persian Gulf and Boxer Rebellion, was awarded Sir Gilbert Blane’s Gold Medal for his journal kept aboard H.M.S. Suffolk in 1905

China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (Surgn. J. W. W. Stanton, R.N., H.M.S. Algerine); together with the related miniature award, nearly extremely fine (2) £600-£800

James William Wilcocks Stanton was born on 16 December 1869, and joined the Royal Navy on 14 November 1893. Initially serving at Haslar Hospital, he served in H.M.S. Seagull from 1 May 1894, before joining H.M.S. Pigeon in February 1895 for service in Persian Gulf, when that Pigeon co-operated with H.M.S. Sphinx for the reduction of the rebellious tribe of Al Bin Ali, which was threatening the Island of Bahrein; the ships earned the thanks of the Government of India. A number of other Commissions followed until he was appointed Surgeon in H.M.S. Algerine, with which ship he took part in the Third China War, during which he was in medical charge of the military base at Sinho, the port of disembarkation of troops in the Peiho River, until the arrival of Army Medical Officer. Promoted Staff Surgeon on 14 November 1901, Stanton was awarded Sir Gilbert Blane’s Gold Medal for his Journal in H.M.S. Suffolk in 1905, and after several more Commissions was advanced to Fleet Surgeon on 14 November 1909. He was retired as unfit in November 1914; however, he seems to been brought out of retirement during the Great War as the medal rolls show entitlement to a Great War trio as Fleet Surgeon. He died in 1954.