Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Manchester & Salford Volunteers Medal 1802, laureated bust of George III facing right , ‘G.R.’ in the field, enclosed by a chain of hands and hearts; reverse: inscription in raised letters (name, rank and ‘Royal’ engraved) ‘Ensign Gerrard Bancks, a testimony of gratitude from his fellow townsmen for spirited and patriotic services 1802, Royal Manchester & Salford Volunteers’, 36mm., gold, glazed and mounted within a silver-gilt frame, with loop suspension, in red leather case, ref: Tancred p.374 sim., H.I. p.363 (2), Payne p.217, nearly extremely fine £400-500

Gerrard Bancks worked as a printer, bookseller and publisher in Manchester. He died on 12 November 1804, aged 38 years and was buried at St. Peter’s Church. Manchester. He is known to have published two books on the Manchester Volunteers - Regulating Code of Laws for the Manchester and Salford Light Horse Volunteers (1797) and Roll of the Manchester and Salford Light Horse Volunteers (1797).

Extract from Manchester Chronicle, 17 November 1804, ‘On Monday died, after a long illness, Mr Gerrard Bancks, stationer and printer, lamented by his family and relatives and much respected by a number of friends. Being an officer in Colonel Ackers Regiment of Volunteers. He was buried yesterday with military honours’. Sold with some copied research.