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Auction: 15001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 587

Pair: Captain T.F. Birch, Royal Navy
China 1842 (Thos. F. Birch, Lieut. H.M.S. Modeste.); Baltic 1854, unnamed as issued, good very fine (2)

Captain Thomas Francis Birch, joined the Royal Navy, December 1830; passed his examination, 1837; served as Mate in H.M.S. Beagle (Captain J. Wickham), in Australia; promoted Lieutenant, July 1840, and appointed the same month to H.M.S. Melville (flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Hon. G. Elliot), in the East Indies; after briefly serving in the Britomart he was appointed First Lieutenant, H.M.S. Modeste (Captain R. Watson), August 1841; he served with the 'latter vessel during the campaign China, he landed with the troops at the reduction of Chinghae, 10.10.1841 - ably commanded the boats of the Modeste and E.I.C.'s ship Sesostris at the defence of Ningpo, 10.3.1842 - and was employed on shore at the capture of Chapoo and of the batteries of Woosung, 28th May and 16th June, 1842. (London Gazette 1842, pp. 396, 2388, 3694, 3400). For these services he was promoted to the rank of Commander 30.12.1842 (London Gazette 1842 p 3900)' (O'Byrne refers); commanded H.M.S. Waterwitch, 1844-1847, in the suppression of the slave trade on the coast of Africa; Captain 1850; commanded H.M.S. Esk during the Baltic Campaign, 1855.

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Sold for
£1,900