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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 28

China 1842 (Robert Moffitt, H.M.S. Druid.), good very fine

Robert Moffitt was born at Mansion Row, Chatham, Kent and his date of birth varies from 1792-1804 across his service. He enlisted in the Royal Navy on 16 March 1824 and initially serves aboard Gloucester in home waters. Unemployed for six months until 21 April 1827, Moffitt was then taken aboard Cordelia and rated as Captain's Steward, a position he holds for the majority of the remainder of his career. Leaving Cordelia he is appointed Gun Room Stewart aboard Orestes in early 1828. This first year was spent in the blockade of Tangiers following the capture of two merchantmen by Barbary pirates and then went to Ireland, when she was struck by a hurricane off Galway in November 1830. Moffitt then joined Conway in 1832 which saw her take Earl Mulgrave and his family out to Jamaica to become Governor and also formed part of the blockade of Belgium later that year. She then headed to the South American Station, arriving at Rio de Janeiro on 1 January 1834, in good time for the Peruvian Civil War, in which she again formed part of the blockade. 1835 saw Conway assist in the search for the crew of the wrecked Challenger, which led to the Beagle, Blanche and Conway searching for her. Charles Darwin was aboard Beagle and wrote of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami on 20 February that likely caused the wreck, which was eventually found on the western coast of Chile. Conway then sailed up to Mexico, seeing the effects of the vast earthquakes and subsequent eruptions all along South America at this time. Her crew saw the pumice and ash from the volcano, news of which fed back to Darwin and Captain Fitzroy. Conway also took on board two large boxes of his precious specimens before Darwin set for the Galapagos. Returned to England in October 1835, with half of the crew of Challenger aboard - besides a 'Southern Sheep' named 'Jack' from Darwin - their journey home included the fastest recorded sailing from Valparaiso to Rio.

Moffitt was drafted to Hercules in April 1836, he joined Volage in March 1837, who later participated in the capture of Aden in 1839. She engaged a number of coastal batteries and landed Bluejackets for the land battle which was won, securing Aden as an important port for years to come. Volage arrived at Hong Kong on 30 August 1839.

Volage was to the fore in the Battle of Chuenpee on 3 November 1839 when she engaged Admiral Kwan's fleet of 29 war-junks. Three were sunk, one exploded and all but one were driven ashore. In June 1840 Druid joined the Naval force from Australia and Captain Smith of the Volage took command following the death of the previous Captain, Moffitt staying with him as Captain's Steward. In August 1840 Druid shared in the response to an unprovoked attack on a clergyman when a force assaulted the Chinese Works behind Macao. Two junks were sunk and 17 guns spiked. January 1841 saw her bombard the fort at Tycocktow and on 26 February she attacked the battery at Wangtung. She was also in action at Amoy in August, sailing for England and being paid off in April 1843.

Moffitt joined Vestal on 25 November 1843 and took part in her world journey that began in January 1844. Whilst in Borneo in early 1845 she found herself set upon by pirates in Marudu Bay. Having taken hot fire from 8.50am in August 1845, she returned fire and eventually cut the boom set up by the pirates and rushed them. Over 100 pirates are thought to have been killed in action and their stockades were destroyed. Further unrest followed in Canton and Vestal remained in the region until she departed for home in March 1847.

Moffitt joined Bellerophon in October 1847, which would be his final ship. He was paid off on 29 October 1850, also being in receipt of a Naval L.S. & G.C. and died in 1867, leaving his estate to their childless widow, Catherine; sold together with a file of detailed research including full muster extracts.

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Sold for
£750

Starting price
£400