An Important Collection of Medals for the Maori Wars, 1845-1866

Pair: Midshipman H. H. Garrett, H.E.I.C. Bombay Marine

China 1842 (H. H. Garrett, Midn. H.E.I.C.S. Auckland); New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1845 to 1846 (H. H. Garrett, Midmn., H.E.I. Coy’s S. Elphinstone) edge bruise to the first, otherwise very fine and better and very rare (2) £2000-2500

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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Collection

Ex Douglas-Morris Collection, DNW October 1996.

56 First China War medals were awarded to the Honourable East India Company’s Steamer Elphinstone.

Only 6 medals were awarded to the Elphinstone for the First New Zealand War, of which just 2 are known, the other being to Gunner John Simpson of the Bombay Artillery, one of 15 artillerymen who acted as gun-crew on board the ship. Only those crew members who were actually landed and brigaded with the crews of H.M. Ships Castor and North Star qualified for the medal. Garrett's medal was issued on 1 October 1870.

Horatio Hill Garrett was born in Kent on 30 April 1825, son of Lieutenant Edward Garrett, R.N., and nephew to the Trafalgar veteran Commander Henry Garrett, R.N. He was educated at Greenwich Hospital, which he attended for three years, and entered the Honourable East India Company's Bombay Marine in 1839 as a 'Volunteer' Cadet. He served in the China and New Zealand Wars and was later drowned at sea.