War Medals

NAVAL GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 1793-1840 : MIDSHIPMAN SUBSEQUENTLY LIEUTENANT :

Bar, 'Java', officially impressed naming - Alexr. BUCHANAN, Midshipman. (ALEXANDER BUCHANAN - Born 5 May 1793 at Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, the younger son of George Buchanan and his wife Helen. Entered the Royal Navy on 4 July 1806 as a 1st.Class Volunteer in HMS. ''Theseus', in which ship he took part in the blockade of the French fleet at Brest and the escort of a military convoy to the Cape of Good Hope. Removed in June 1807 to HMS. 'Ganges' and was present in the ensuing expedition to Copenhagen. Moved to HMS. 'Pompee', then lying at Chatham and became Midshipman of HMS. 'Victory' in March 1808. Served next from May to November 1809 in HMS. 'Melpomene' and HMS. 'Eagle' and was subsequently, for upwards of three years, actively employed in HMS. 'Hussar' on tthe East India Station, where in August 1811 he assisted at the reduction of Java. On 7 February 1813, he passed his examination and immediately afterwards recieved an order to act as Lieutenant in HMS. 'Barracouta'. On 24 August 1813 he was officially promoted to Lieutenant. From September to November 1815 he served in HMS. 'Martin' and for a short time in 1828 he served in HMS. 'Hyperion', then stationed in Newhaven Harbour for the purposes of the extended Coast Blockade. This was his final employment. In January 1827 he married a daughter of the late Rear-Admiral Alexander Shippard, (Grand-Daughter of the late Admiral Sir John Knight, KCB.) and together they had four sons and two daughters. He died at Edinburgh in 1849 at the age of 57 years.). Sold with verification, copy entry Navy List, copy London Gazette entries and related research. Some 665 medals with the bar for 'Java' were awarded, but only 35 to HMS. 'Hussar'. Provenance - Sotheby May 1910, Glendining March 2000 : Very slight edge bruising not affecting naming, scarce medal to a Naval Officer - NEF - £2850