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Auction: 8016 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 61

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1845-1846 (Lieut. A.J. Curtis, H.M.S. North Star.), good very fine Estimate £ 600-650 Captain Alfred John Curtis, the nephew of Sir William Curtis, Bart., joined the Royal Navy, 25.4.1831; he saw service as Mate in H.M.S. Seringapatam (Captain John Leith), stationed in North America and the West Indies, before serving in H.M.S. North Star (Captain Sir James Everard Home) during the campaign in China, 1842; Lieutenant 18.11.1842, in January 1846, whilst still borne on the same ship´´s books, Curtis served on shore during the assault on the rebel Chief Kawiti´´s pah at Ruapikapika, New Zealand. Curtis was mentioned in despatches for his gallant conduct, when, after two days of bombardment on the pah by Naval guns, he as part of the assault force advanced, ´´on the 11th, when our friendly natives having ascertained that the two breaches were practicable, waved us on to advance; an assault was instantly made by the seamen under my [Captain George James Hay] command in conjunction with the land forces and natives; we were scarcely in the pah, when the enemy made a desparate attempt to regain it, and a severe action ensued, which lasted nearly four hours; they were finally repulsed in the most gallant manner, and retreated to the wood.´´ (London Gazette January 1846, p2346); served as First Lieutenant H.M.S. Mutine (Captain Robert Tyron and John Jervis Palmer), in the Channel and on the Mediterranean from 19.12.1846, until wrecked in December 1848; Commander 7.5.1852; appointed Admiralty Agent in the contract Mail Steam service, July 1852; appointed to command of H.M.S. Brisk in the Pacific, October 1854; as part of the squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Henry William Bruce, he commanded the Brisk during the destruction of the deserted Russian fortifications at Petropaulovski, May 1855; Captain 17.10.1857. Approximately 41 ´´1845-1846´´ dated medals to H.M.S. North Star.

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