Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A very scarce first and second China Wars pair to Boatswain’s Mate Thomas Burns, Royal Navy

China 1842, 1 clasp, China 1842 (Thomas Burns, H.M.S. Endymion) fitted with original suspension, the clasp loose on ribbon as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., wide suspension (T. Burns, Boatsns. Mte. H.M.S. Implacable 20 Yrs.) both medals with finely engraved silver ribbon brooches, light contact marks, otherwise very fine (2) £2500-3000

Thomas Burns was born at Torpoint, c. 1826, and served as a Boy 2nd Class on board the Endymion during the first China War, and as Boatswain’s Mate aboard the Cormorant and the Comus during the second campaign in 1858. His L.S. & G.C. was awarded on 19 December 1864. Thomas Burns is confirmed on the medal rolls as one of the 101 recipients of the 1st China War medal with ‘China 1842’ and/or 2nd China War clasps.