Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sick Berth Steward Matthew Townley, Royal Navy

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol (Mattw. Townley. Sick Bth. Attent. HMS Vengeance) contemporary engraved naming; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (Mw. Townley Sick Berth Stewd. H.M.S. Wellesley. 27 Yrs); Turkish Crimea 1855, Sardinian issue, unnamed as issued, pierced and fitted with rings for suspension, mounted on card for display, the first with contact marks, nearly very fine, otherwise good very fine (3) £800-£1,000

Matthew Townley was born in Northampton on 15 July 1818, and joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman on 7 August 1840, becoming Able Seaman on 5 March 1843. He served aboard H.M. Ships Howe, Eurydice and Retribution before joining Vengeance on 17 October 1846. In August 1851 he became a Sick Berth Attendant and continued to serve in Vengeance until 15 May 1855, during which period he saw service in the Crimea and is believed to be one of only three Sick Berth ratings to receive the Crimea medal. After further service aboard St George, Exmouth and Ganges, he joined Wellesley on 27 May 1861, and advanced to Sick Berth Steward on 1 January 1862. He received his L.S. & G.C. medal in March 1868, his period of service being recorded as 27 years, and was discharged to pension on 28 March 1868.

Sold with copied record of service.