Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 23
A fine and important First China War C.B. group of three awarded to Captain Harry Eyres, Royal Navy, who commanded H.M.S. Modeste, the most actively employed Royal Navy Ship during the war, taking part in all but one of the thirteen actions and operations, and being mentioned in despatches on no fewer than nine occasions for his conduct of affairs during this campaign, which led to his promotion to Captain in May 1841, and the nomination for a C.B. in October 1841
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 22 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1818, maker’s mark ‘IE’ for John Edwards, complete with wide swivel-ring suspension and integral gold ribbon buckle; China 1842 (Harry Eyres, Captain, H.M.S. Modeste); Baltic 1854-55, unnamed, court mounted for display, some minor chipping to green enamel wreaths on the first, the second with two edge bruises but generally very fine and better (3)
£6,000-£7,000 Provenance: Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 1997.
Harry Eyres was second son of George Robert Eyres Esq., by Louisa, eldest daughter of Sir Harry Parker, Bart., of Melford Hall, Suffolk. He was a nephew of Sir Hyde Parker, Bart., and a cousin of Vice-Admiral Hyde Parker, C.B. He entered the Navy on 17 June 1818, as a Volunteer on board the Iphigenia, commanded by his relative, Captain Hyde Parker, whom he accompanied to the West Indies. He was afterwards, until April 1827, employed as Midshipman and Mate, on the Home, Mediterranean, and North American stations, in the Shearwater, Liffey, Iphigenia again, Brisk, Active and Jupiter. He then became Acting Lieutenant of the Niemen, being confirmed on his return to England by commission dated 5 June 1827. He was subsequently appointed to the Comet, 4 February 1829, in the East Indies; Victory, 30 October 1832, flagship of Sir Thomas Foley at Portsmouth; Forte, 9 May 1843, of which ship, after visiting Bermuda in command of the Pyramus with 400 convicts on board, he became First Lieutenant; Fly, 20 January 1835, and, on 12 October 1836, to the command of the Pantaloon, tender to the Royal George yacht.
Attaining the rank of Commander on 10 January 1837, Eyres, in November of the same year, commissioned the Modeste. In that ship, after serving for some time under Lord John Hay on the north coast of Spain during the Carlist war, he proceeded to North America, where he was present at Mexico during the dispute between that republic and the French government, and was sent to New York with despatches for the British Minister at Washington relative to the Maine boundary question. He was also very actively employed in suppressing the slave traffic in the Mozambique Channel.
He afterwards took an active part in the first China War. On 7 January 1841, he ably assisted in the attack on Tycocktow, and on 26 February he obtained the best thanks of Sir Gordon Bremer for his conduct at the capture of the island of Wangtong. The next day he afforded very efficacious support to an attack made by a squadron under Captain Thomas Herbert on the enemy’s camp, fort and ship Cambridge, bearing the Chinese Admiral’s flag, at their position below Whampoa Reach, where he landed, and contributed to the destruction in the whole of 98 guns. On 13 March Captain Eyres was likewise mentioned for his effective aid at the capture of the last fort protecting the approaches to Canton; and in the course of the same month, and in the following May, he was reported for his gallantry at the first and second investment of that city. After further serving at the capture of Amoy, Chusan, and Chinghae, he returned to England, towards the close of 1841, with intelligence of the capture of Ningpo. As a reward for his services he was raised to Post- rank with seniority from 6 May 1841, and nominated a C.B. on 14 October of the same year. He was appointed to the command of the St George, 16 February 1854, and served in the Baltic during that year. In 1855 he conveyed troops to the Mediterranean, escorted Her Majesty to France, and visited Lisbon in honour of the accession of the King of Portugal to the throne. He was subsequently appointed to the Exmouth, 20 March 1856; St Vincent, 30 July 1857; Duke of Wellington, 17 March 1858; and St Vincent again on 1 July 1858. Harry Eyres was placed on half-pay in April 1859 and died at his home in Dorset Square, London, on 17 July 1860.
A detailed description of the activities of Modeste can be found in the two volume work ‘Expedition to China’, by Commander J. E. Bingham, late 1st Lieutenant of Modeste, published in 1842. Sold with additional research including copied London Gazette entries.
www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212
