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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 269

Pair: Captain of the Forecastle James Gale, Royal Navy, later Chief Boatman, Coast Guard, who was wounded in action in February 1853

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Pegu (Jas. Gale. A.B. “Fox”); Baltic 1854-55 (James Gale) contemporary engraved naming, light contact marks, otherwise very fine (2)

James Gale was born at Bridport, Devon on 25 December 1830 or 1831, the son of an agricultural worker. He joined the Royal Navy in 1847 as Boy 2nd Class and saw his first service afloat off the west coast of Africa aboard Firefly. Paid off, he joined Fox on 31 July 1850 and was probably involved in the riots that sprung up in Portsmouth between her crew and soldiers of the 50th Foot in August that year. Every night for a week the two groups clashed and eventually the Magistrate was forced to read the Riot Act in order to stop further altercations. They departed for India in September and reached Simon's Town on 3 December, landing at Trincomalee on 29 January 1851. Transferred to Burma in early 1852 the first actions of the Second Burmese took place for Fox on 10 January when she fired on shore batteries together with Phlegethon. The Reverend T. T. Baker, Chaplain aboard Fox estimated some 400 enemy were killed or wounded. She then prepared for the attack on Rangoon on 11 April, firing on the stockades either side of the river there and at Dalla. On 13 April, the boats of Fox landed troops for the attack on the Shwe Dragon Temple, costing her three casualties. The subsequent action at Bassein on 17 May used men landed again by Fox and the assault at Pegu which employed 4 officers and 56 men from her for the attack. The action cost Fox three wounded. The later capture of Pegu in November again involved her boats and men.

By 1853 it was decided the beligerent Myat-htoon and his forces at Donabew should be dealt with. Landing on 2 February the Bluejackets - Gale included - marched through thick paddy fields in the direction of the enemy. Marching the next morning their path was directed through a narrow channel to a nullah with sharp bamboos at the edge, the trap had been set by the enemy. At this moment the enemy opened an accurate fire upon the British. Lieutenant Kennedy of the Fox and Captain Price, 67th Bengal Infantry, were killed on the spot. Captain Loch, in command of the Bluejackets, led his party to the attack. Gale answered the call but suffered three wounds to his side and right arm, one of 6 killed (Loch amongst them) and 53 wounded on the occasion. He was removed to the Phlegethon for treatment and back to his original posting.

Recovered from his wounds, Gale was paid off on 22 May 1854 and then joined Powerful as Captain of the Main Top, before joining St Vincent from May-November 1854. He served with her in the Baltic operations. Transferred to the Indus on October 1856, his Baltic Medal was sent to him on 13 August 1857 with her on the North American and West Indies Station.

Transferred to the Coast Guard on 11 May 1860, he served at Bridport and on the Isle of Sheppey. Commander Boatman from January 1866 at Burnt Island, Fife, he was Chief Boatman from 1872-April 1875 when he retired. Remaining on the island as a Naval Pensioner, he died there on 3 March 1897 whilst working as a wagon painter. He was survived by his widow and their eight children; sold together with a file of detailed research and roll extracts.

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Sold for
£520

Starting price
£280