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Auction: 8016 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 10

A Fine N.G.S. and Arctic Medal Pair to Commodore R. Maguire, Royal Navy, Who Was Severely Wounded in the Assault on Sidon, 28.9.1840 Naval General Service 1793-1840, one clasp, Syria (Rochfort Maguire.), minor edge nicks; Arctic Medal 1818-55, edge contemporarily and neatly engraved in upright serif capitals, ´Rochfort Maguire, Lieut. /48. To 51 - Commnd. /52 To 54.´, suspension claw of last re-affixed, otherwise good very fine (2) Estimate £ 1,800-2,200 Commodore Rochfort Maguire was educated at the Royal Naval College before entering the Royal Navy, 12.11.1830; he served as Mate in H.M.S. Wasp, and it was whilst serving in this capacity that he took part in the capture of Sidon, 28.9.1840. Admiral (then Commodore) Sir Charles Napier led a combined force of British, Austrian and Turkish marines and sailors against the Egyptian held town of Sidon - he mentions Maguire´´s gallant conduct in his despatch (London Gazette 17.11.1840, p2604), ´´Commodore Mansell, of the Wasp, was directed to seize the first favourable opportunity of throwing the detachment of marines, brought out by the Stromboli, and the Austrian marines, into the castle, abreast of him, which he did with great gallantry and judgement........the garrison consisted of nearly three thousand men, and not one escaped: our force was under one thousand..... Our loss, which I enclose.. one marine officer and three seaman killed, two mates, a boatswain, and thirty seamen wounded. I have much reason to be satisfied with the conduct of the captains, officers, and men under my orders, all showed the greatest zeal; English, Austrian, and Turks, vied with each other..... Messrs. McGuire [sic] and Price, old mates, are both severely wounded, and behaved most gallantly... and I trust their Lordships will promote them.´´ Maguire was appointed Lieutenant in light of his bravery at Sidon, and served in H.M.S. Vernon (Captain William Walpole), on the Mediterranean Station, 1841-44; appointed as an Additional to the Agincourt (Flag-Ship of Sir Thomas J. Cochrane) on the East Indies Station; he served in H.M.S. Herald (Captain Henry Kellet) on the Arctic Station, during the Franklin Search Expedition, 1848-54; the Herald and the Plover both tasked with this enterprise, although failing in their primary objective, did explore unknown waters in the vicinity and discovered two islands which became their namesakes (200 miles north west of Cape Lisburne); Maguire was appointed to the Command of the Plover, 1.7.1852, and oversaw her two winters at Barrow Point, on the Arctic Station; Captain 1855; further appointments included the commands of the Sans Pareil, Imperieuse and Galatea, before being appointed as Commodore of the Australian Station; he was invalided and died at Haslar, 1867. Maguire wrote an Appendix to Sherard Osborn´´s The Discovery of a North West Passage by Captain M´´Clure entitled The Narrative of Commander Maguire wintering at Point Barrow. His Journal covering the same period was edited by John Bockstoce and published in two volumes by the Hakluyt Society in 1988. Provenance: Christie, July 1984.

Sold for
£6,200