Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Naval General Service 1793-1840, 2 clasps, Banda Neira, Java (George Manning.) good very fine £3,000-£4,000

Approximately 68 clasps issued for Banda Neira and about 25 medals with both clasps.

George Manning is confirmed as a Landsman aboard Caroline at both actions. Captain Christopher Cole, commanding the Caroline and the senior officer present, was awarded a gold medal for the successful operations which resulted in the capture of the island of Banda Neira from the Dutch and the surrender of 1500 troops.

George Manning was born in Bristol and was aged 22 when he joined from the frigate Doris at Madras on 20 April 1810. He had ‘volunteered’ for Doris on 24 June 1807, aged 19, from the True Briton, Indiaman. No doubt True Briton had been intercepted by Doris and some of her crew pressed, who, making the most of a bad job, would ‘volunteer’ to get the bounty. As a landsman he would have been of little skill as a sailor and he was discharged to the receiving ship Royal William in Portsmouth harbour on 19 January 1812, when all trace of him is lost.