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Auction: 16001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 163

China 1857-60, one clasp, Canton 1857 (Major W.J. Smart [sic]. Royal Engineers), officially impressed, good very fine, together with the recipient's related miniature award, this lacking clasp

Major-General William James Stuart, born April 1831, the son of Hamilton Stuart Esq., of Co. Tyrone, Ireland; Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, December 1849; promoted Lieutenant, February 1854; Captain, August 1858; served during the Second China War at Canton, 1856-58, was present at the capture and demolition of French Folly Fort and at the formation of the defensive position at the Factories, led the French Storming Party at the assault of Canton, was thanked by the French Naval Commander in Chief, and promoted Brevet Major; promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, November 1871; Brevet Colonel, October 1877; appointed Commanding Royal Engineer, Woolwich District; promoted Major-General, February 1888; retired, 1891; died, July 1914.

Major-General Stuart married Miss Eleanor Dorkas French in 1859; they had four sons, Hamilton Stuart, Thomas George Stuart-French, Claude Houston Stuart-French, and Pascoe William Grenfell Stuart-French.

Note: There is no Officer by the name of W.J. Smart in the Army Lists of the period.

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Sold for
£580