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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 293

(x) Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R. (Jas.. Saunders Grs Mte H.M.S. St Vincent.) engraved, light contact marks, very fine

James Saunders was born at Adgestone, Sandown, Isle of Wight, on 23 October 1838 and was the son of James Saunders and Elizabeth Jackman. He enlisted into the Royal Navy on 24 May 1859 and entered Britannia for a period of 10 years as an ordinary seaman 2nd Class.

On 25 April 1860 he transferred to Euryalus and he remained briefly on board until transferring to Princess Royal on 20 November 1860. Jackman moved to Revenge, a 91-gun screw-powered second-rate ship on 1 May 1861, and became the flagship for Rear-Admiral R. Smart of the Channel Squadron, commanded by Captain C. Fellowes. From 1862, she served in the Mediterranean Station, and by 1 February 1865, he had advanced to leading seaman. On 27 April, he transferred to Excellent, the Royal Navy gunnery training ship at Portsmouth, moored in the harbour and connected by a bridge to Calcutta. This ship was a core part of the Royal Navy's leading gunnery school, which was in the process of being transitioned from a seaborne vessel to a shore establishment on Whale Island.

On 26 August 1866, he married Rosina Stevens at Saint Mary's, Portsea, Hampshire, and a daughter, Edith Elizabeth Saunders, was born the following year on 28 July 1867. Just two days later, he was transferred to Warrior, a cutting-edge, steam-powered, iron-hulled warship serving with the Royal Navy's Channel Squadron after a significant refit and re-armament. Saunders was appointed 2nd Captain of the After Guard, likely a petty officer supervising the crew and managing the sails on the stern of the ship. On 24 May 1869, he re-engaged for a further 10 years.

Another daughter, Ceclila Emmeline Saunders, was born in 1870, and the following year he transferred back to Excellent. On 7 December 1871, he was promoted to gunner's mate, and on 1 October 1872, he was transferred to Minotaur, which served as the flagship of the Channel Fleet. A son, James William Saunders, was born at Portsmouth, Hampshire, in 1873, and a second son, Wallace Gilbert Saunders, was born in 1875. At this time, he was serving on St. Vincent, a 120-gun, first-rate Royal Navy ship of the line serving as a training ship for boys in Portsmouth Harbour. While posted here, he was awarded his Royal Navy L.S. & G.C. Medal; his conduct was listed as very good or exemplary. On 4 May 1877, he transferred to Clyde, another training ship permanently berthed in Aberdeen harbour. Petty Officer 1st Class Saunders served in this role until being shore-pensioned on 17 May 1882 after 23 years' service.

The 1911 census shows him as a 71-year-old naval pensioner working for Croes Sons and Absolom Tea Merchants, Fenchurch Street, London as their warehouse foreman living at 40 Park Street, East Greenwich together with his wife. In 1921, they were still living at the same address, and he was a retired tea foreman.

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

Estimate
£140 to £180

Starting price
£110