Lot 1061
A CHINA AND CANADA PAIR TO PAY MASTER KEYS.
A China War Medal 1842 named to J.A. Keys Actg. Purser H.E.I.C.S. Sesostris and New Zealand Medal with 1845-1846 reverse named to Py Mr J.A. Keys The H.E.I.Coy Str Elphinstone. The China medal on decorative pin fixing, both with apparently original short ribbons.
105 China medals were awarded to the crew of the Honourable East India Company Sesostris. According to Hayward Birch and Bishop 155 1845-46 reverse examples of the New Zealand Medal are recorded to the Bombay European Artillery who were aboard the Honourable East India Company Ship Elphinstone and a few others. Only 6 medals were awarded to the Elphinstone for the First New Zealand War, of which just 2 are known, the other being to Gunner John Simpson of the Bombay Artillery, one of 15 artillerymen who acted as gun-crew on board the ship. The other to H H Garrett Midshipman on the Elphinstone. Only those crew members who were actually landed and brigaded with the crews of H.M. Ships Castor and North Star qualified for the medal. Garrett's medal was issued on 1 October 1870.
The East India Company Ship Elpinstone was an 18 gun sloop built by Hilhouse & Sons, she is recorded as working alongside other British ships during the 'Flagstaff War' in New Zealand,
