Four: Blacksmith J. Franks, Royal Navy

Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (John Franks. Armr. “Fox”); Abyssinia 1867 (J. Franks Blksmith S.M.S. [sic] Satellite); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (Jn. Franks. Blacksmth.. H.M.S. Satellite 20 Yrs..), crude repair to suspension on third, otherwise good very fine (4) £800-£1,200

Provenance: Jack Deacon Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, June 2002

John Franks was born in Clatton, Somerset in April 1828 and joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman aboard H.M.S. Fox in July 1850. Quickly witnessing active service in the Pegu operations of the Burma War 1852-53, he was appointed an Armourer before joining his next ship, the Baselisk, and in her was present during the Baltic operations of 1854-55. Appointed a Blacksmith in late 1856, Franks went on to serve in the Abyssinia operations of 1867-68 aboard the Satellite and received his L.S. & G.C. Medal on being pensioned ashore from her in November 1870.