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

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse undated (A. Mansfield, Gunr. R.M.A. H.M.S. Pelorus) officially impressed naming, good very fine £350-400

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 February 1997.

Andrew Mansfield's medal was issued on 3 December 1872, one of only two known examples with undated reverse to this ship. 116 medals (11 to R.N. officers, 75 to R.N. ratings, 1 to an R.M. officer, and 29 to R.M. N.C.Os. and men) of which 49 are known including two with the reverse undated, the remainder with reverses dated 1860-61.

Born on 5 July 1833, he enlisted for the Royal Marines at Woolwich in No. 13 Company aged 21 years, on 21 July 1854. After serving aboard H.M.S. Cressy from May 1855 until December 1855 earning the Baltic Campaign medal, he joined H.M.S. Pelorus on 22 July 1857.

He served ashore on numerous occasions in the Naval Brigade in New Zealand as follows: 4 February to 14 April 1858; 21 to 24 August 1859; 6-9 October 1859; 13-15 March 1860; 20 April to 1 May 1860, and from 23 May 1860 until 18 April 1861, spending some of this time loaned to H.M.S. Fawn. He was paid off from Pelorus on 10 December 1862, re-engaged in October 1867 but deserted from H.M.S. Pylades on 13 March 1870.