Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 1 clasp, Java (Thos. Nelence.) small collector’s number ‘1151’ impressed by suspension claw, good very fine £1,200-£1,400

Provenance: Sotheby, October 1957.

Thomas Nelence (also Nelance and Neelance) was born at Winchester and entered the Navy as an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Akbar on 27 March 1805, aged 21. He was advanced to Able Seaman on 1 August 1810, and took part in the combined Naval and Military operations in the capture of the island of Java, July to September 1811. He left Akbar for Hasty on 23 August 1812, serving in this ship until 22 November 1815, latterly as Captain of the Forecastle, and was then at Chatham Ordinary until 19 March 1819. He is afterwards, when aged 50, listed as a Guard on the Unite Hospital Convict Ship. Sold with research.