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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 610

(x) A very rare pair awarded to Sergeant D. Bloomfield, Middlesex Militia, late Colour Sergeant, Royal Marines, who served aboard Rattlesnake during her Arctic expedition of 1853-54 in the search for Sir John Franklin

Arctic 1818-55, unnamed as issued; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (3979. Serjt Danl. Bloomfield. 4th Middlesex Militia), first good very fine, the second very fine (2)

Daniel Bloomfield was born in March 1818 at Stradbrooke, Suffolk and enlisted in the Royal Marines on 9 April 1840. He soon served afloat with H.M.S. Wilberforce, under the command of Captain Allen for the Niger Expedition of 1841. Returned home and promoted Corporal aboard Acheron, by 1851 Bloomfield was living in Barracks with his wife at Chatham. Joining Rattlesnake in January 1852, it was whilst aboard the 28-gun Atholl-class corvette that he would see serving in the Arctic during the search expedition for Sir John Franklin in 1853-54. Leaving port in February 1853, Rattlesnake traversed through to the Straight of Magellan, reaching Port Clarence, Alaska in order to provide stores for Plover, awaiting the return of Enterprise and Investigator. His Medal was issued to Chatham on 3 June 1857.

Leaving the Royal Marines on 9 April 1861, he settled with his family on Ordnance Road, Hounslow, Middlesex and served in the local militia - appearing to be in receipt of this L.S. & G.C. - whilst taking work as a mail cart driver. He died of heart failure before a shift having lodged at the Druid's Head, Surrey and was buried on 11 September 1875 (Surrey Comet refers); sold with copied Census records and research.

Daniel George Bloomfield was born on Christmas Day 1859, the eldest son of George Bloomfield. Listed as a Drummer on the 1871 census, he emigrated to Australia and arrived at Brisbane on 26 May 1883. Bloomfield was a keen musician and served as Bandmaster of the 9th Australian Infantry Band. He died in Brisbane on 17 August 1915 and is buried in the Toowong Cemetery; sold together with a pair of gold fobs, the first (18ct, 5.5g) engraved 'B.N.B.R.C. Highest including H'Cap Points 1898-9 Won by D. G. Bloomfield', the second (9ct, 5.2g) engraved 'From the members of the 9th A.I.R. Band Dec 1907' and copied research.

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Sold for
£6,000