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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 103

(x) Pair: Captain of the After Guard J. Pratt, Royal Navy

Baltic 1854-55, unnamed as issued; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R. wide suspender (J. Pratt. Capt Aftr Gd H.M.S. Archer 22 Yrs), very fine (2)

James Pratt was born at Leigh, Essex on 22 December 1818. From records he appears to have entered the Merchant Service in 1832, although the records are hard to read, it appears he served on board Rose, Betsen and Fortitude until 24 November 1838 when he enlisted with the Royal Navy. He was assigned to Castor which had been launched on 2 May 1832. On 27 August 1834 she collided with the Revenue Cutter Cameleon off South Foreland, Dover, sinking Cameleon with the loss of most of its crew. This incident led to the Court Martial of the officers and crew of Castor on 6 September 1834 in Plymouth, the officers were acquitted but the lieutenant of the watch was dismissed from the service.

In 1840, Pratt took part in the Second Syrian War, and the Castor took part in the bombardment of St Jean d'Acre on 3 November. For this action he was awarded both the Naval General Service Medal 1793-1840 with clasp Syria and the bronze St Jean d'Acre Medal.

On 14 August 1841 he transferred to Thunderer while stationed at Gibraltar, this ship also took part in the bombardment of St Jean d'Acre. On 1 October they departed Gibraltar for England, arriving eighteen days later. Pratt remained on this ship until 8 November 1847 when he was shown as invalided, but no reason for this injury or sickness in recorded. He next appears on Southampton on 21 July 1848 a 60-gun fourth-rate ship of the line, was involved in several key activities. She was stationed at the Cape of Good Hope, serving as the flagship for Rear-Admiral Barrington Reynolds, who was tasked with suppressing the slave trade on the west coast of Africa. The ship also carried mail from Devonport to the Cape of Good Hope, she also underwent repairs in Sheerness and Woolwich during this period. On 1 September 1850 he received 2 Good Conduct Badges, and on 20 February 1852 he was assigned to Polyphemus and served on the west coast of Africa until 23 September 1854.

His next assignment was Harrier, a Cruiser-class screw sloop, which took part in the Crimean War as part of the naval force in the Baltic Sea for which he qualified for the Baltic Medal, he also received his three good conduct badge while serving aboard this ship. Following this he briefly served onboard Victory between 5 August - 9 September 1858, this ship was in dry dock at Portsmouth. On 10 September he transferred to Archer which was newly commissioned in May of that year. The ship was assigned to the African station, for anti-slavery patrols, and as Captain of the After Guard he was awarded his Navy Long Service Good Conduct Medal on 2 October 1861 while stationed at Point Padron River, Congo, West Coast of Africa. This service was notoriously unhealthy, with tropical diseases taking a heavy toll of British seamen. Archer returned to home waters and Pratt's last day recorded was 24 June 1862, after which it is assumed that he retired.


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£700 to £900

Starting price
£550