Four: Gunner’s Mate Henry Balcom, Royal Navy

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1865 (Hy. Balcom, Boy 1st Cl., H.M.S. Eclipse) officially impressed naming; Egypt and Sudan 1882-891 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (H. Balcom, Ch. Gunrs. Mte. H.M.S. “Inflexible”); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (Henry Balcom, Gunner’s Mate, H.M.S. Excellent) officially re-impressed naming; Khedive’s Star 1882, generally good very fine and scarce (4) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Important Collection of Medals for the Maori Wars, 1845-1866.

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Henry Balcom's New Zealand War medal was issued on 18 November 1870. Only 24 medals are known to have been awarded to the Royal Navy with this reverse date, 11 to Eclipse and 13 to Brisk. 75 medals (13 to R.N. officers, 49 to R.N. ratings, and 13 to R.M. N.C.Os. and men) were awarded to H.M.S. Eclipse for the Second New Zealand War, of which 34 are known including 11 with reverses dated 1865, 3 with reverses dated 1863-1864, one with reverse dated 1864-1866, and the balance with reverses dated 1863-1865.

560 medals for Egypt 1882 were awarded to the Flagship H.M.S. Invincible for the bombardment of Alexandria under Admiral Seymour.

Henry Balcom was born on 28 May 1847, at Southsea, Hampshire. His earlier service records have not been sought but his later records show he first enlisted in 1861. On 28 May 1865 he re-engaged for Continuous Service for 10 years and again for a further 10 years on 28 May 1875. He attained Seaman Gunner 1st Class on 1 November 1869 and Gunnery Instructor on 6 July 1881. From 1 January 1871 he served aboard Hornet, Frolic, Thistle, Dwarf, Modeste, Midge, Hornet, Victor Emanuel, Duke of Wellington, Excellent, Avon, and Excellent, as Petty Officer 1st Class, and then Inflexible (September 1881 to November 1882) as Acting Chief Petty Officer and later Chief Petty Officer, and Duke of Wellington from which he was Shore Pensioned on 15 December 1882 to Excellent where he continued until 1 February 1895.