Pair: Commissioned Boatman E. Gard, H.M. Coast Guard, late Royal Navy

China 1857-60, 1 clasp, Canton 1857, unnamed as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Cd. Boatmn., H.M. Coast Gd., 24 Yrs.), engraved naming, the first with slack suspension claw, one or two edge bruises, otherwise very fine and better and an unusual variety of the last (2) £250-300

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for Services at Sea from the Collection of the Late Oliver Stirling Lee.

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Collection

Approximately 40 L.S. & G.C. Medals of this type issued with years of service on the edge.

Edward Gard’s L.S. & G.C. Medal was awarded in April 1875, just six weeks after the first of the narrow suspension types had been issued and was one of the very first such awards to the Coast Guard following the 42 “wides” issued in 1873-74.

Born in Heavytree, Devon in March 1830, Gard joined the Royal Navy as an Able Seaman in February 1851, his height being recorded at 6 ft., 1 in., so he was an unusually tall man for the age. He subsequently witnessed active service aboard H.M.S. Nankin during the Second China War, including the Canton operations of 1857, and transferred to the Coast Guard in April 1859. Gard was finally pensioned ashore as a Commissioned Boatman in May 1875, shortly after receiving his L.S. & G.C. Medal.