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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 44

The extremely rare China Medal awarded to Carpenter J. Lucks, Royal Navy

China 1842, 2 clasps, China 1842, Canton 1857 (James Lucks, Petty Offr, H.M.S. Wellesley), clasps loose upon riband, small test cut, very fine

One of 101 'China 1842' clasps issued to participants of the First and Second Opium War; some 39 entitled to the 'Canton 1857' clasp in addition.

James Lucks served as a Petty Officer Caulker with the Carpenter's Crew aboard H.M.S Wellesley during the First Opium War. On 19 June 1837 Captain Thomas Maitland had taken command of Wellesley, which became the flagship of Rear-Admiral Frederick Lewis Maitland. In February 1839, Wellesley together with Algerine had captured Karachi. Wellesley sailed into the harbour and proceeded to fire at the mud fort on Manora Island, quickly pulverising it. The purpose of the unprovoked attack was to induce the local rulers to sign a new treaty with the East India Company.

In March 1839 relations between Persia and Britain came to a confrontation over a number of British demands, including that the Shah permit the British a permanent base on Kharg Island, which they had occupied. Attacks on the British Residency in Bushire led to the dispatch of Wellesley and Algerine to Bushire. The outcome was the Anglo-Persian Treaty, signed in October 1841, which recognised a mutual freedom to trade in the territory of the other and for the British to establish consulates in Tehran and Tabriz. Admiral Maitland died on 30th November whilst at sea on board the Wellesley and was replaced by Commodore Sir James Bremmer.
Wellesley started her war under the command of Commodore J. J. G. Bremer and captured Chusan after an exchange of gunfire with shore batteries - some 27 cannonballs were found in her hull after the exchange.
On 7 January 1841 she participated in the Second Battle of Chuenpee and the bombardment of fortifications at Tycocktow - both Chuenpee and Tycocktow guarded the seaward approaches to Canton on the Bogue. That same day Wellesley joined in the Battle of the Bogue, which involved bombardments, Bluejacket landings and the capture and destruction of nearly all the Chinese forts on both sides of the Bocca Tigris up to Canton. Seamen and Royal Marines attacked and captured the fort, camp and guns at a Chinese position during the Battle of First Bar. The Squadron also destroyed the Chinese Admiral's ship Cambridge, formerly a 34-gun East Indiamen.

On 23-30 May, she participated in joint operations in the capture of Canton and subsequent payment by the Chinese of a six million dollar reparations payment imposed on them. Rear-Admiral Sir William Parker replaced Commodore Sir James Bremer as commander-in-chief of the squadron in China on 10th August.

On 26 August Wellesley participated in the destruction of batteries and defences surrounding Amoy. At one point Captain Maitland placed the Wellesley within 400 yards of the principal battery. This action included the temporary occupation of that town and island, along with its key defensive positions on the Island of Koo-Lang-Soo, which were garrisoned. Lastly, on 1 October the British, who had withdrawn in February, reoccupied Chusan and the city of Tinghae. The British proceeded to capture Amoy, Ningpo, Woosung, and Shanghai, ending with the seizure of Chinkiang and closing the entrance to the Grand Canal on 21 July 1842.

For his services during the war, Captain Maitland was awarded a well-deserved C.B.

Lucks appears to have been paid off on 4 August 1842 upon the arrival home to England.

Although his Service Record does not survive, it is known he was appointed Carpenter on 29 July 1846, joining Ringdove on 11 December 1847. He served afloat with Esk on the East Indies Station from 1856-1863, seeing further active service during the Second Opium War, being present at the bombardment and capture of Canton in December 1857 (Clasp).


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Sold for
£2,300