Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Baltic 1854-55 (J. Todd, R.M. H.M.S. “Hecla”) contemporary engraved naming, fitted with post-1873 suspension claw, several indentations to lower rim below naming and possibly restored from a circular mount, otherwise very fine £180-£220

Joseph Todd joined Hecla on 21 March 1854. This was his first ship and he was a Private 3rd Class, born in Guildford, aged 19 years 9 months. He was discharged to the Storeship Tyne for passage on 24/25 May 1854, having been invalided; from her he was discharged to Melville Hosp PPL on 20 June 1854. As the ship was at sea on 14 and 28 May and at Deptford on 29 June it is probable that Melville was a hospital ship based there.

Hecla was a wooden paddle sloop launched at Chatham Dockyard in January 1839. It was in this Hecla (Captain W. Hayhurst Hall) and in this campaign that the first act of courage to be recognised with a Naval Victoria Cross occurred. Acting Mate (Midshipman) Charles Lucas tossed a burning enemy bomb overboard. Todd cannot have witnessed this as Lucas's action was on 21 June 1854, four weeks after Todd left the ship, but he may have been involved in the actions ashore one day (unknown) which resulted in the "Hecla Stone" being brought back and placed on Southsea Common.

Sold with research including photographs of the Lucas V.C. group of medals and of a contemporary sketch of Lucas performing his act of gallantry.