Description
Baltic Medal, engraved to Gunner George Cambridge, Royal Marine Artillery, who later earned a 3 bar China 1857 for spending 5 years in China with the Royal Marine Battalion at many actions.
Engraved in an attractive contemporary style: “G. Cambridge R.M.A.”
With full copy service file from the National Archives.
His services: “This man enlisted for limited service, is in possession of 4 distinguishing marks for 1st October 1860.
Produces certificates for HMS “Very Good”
He served in HMS Jean D’Acre in Baltic in 1854 and in Sampson in China, during 1856,57,58,59,60,61.
Was present in attack and Capture of Canton 1857, Peiho 1858, and Peiho 1860, and the Advance to Pekin.
He is is in possession of a Baltic Medal, and China Medal with clasps for Canton 1857, Taku Forts 1858 and Taku Forts 1860.”
He was invalided out of the service after 6 years and 249 days Afloat and on Foreign Service, with 4 years 356 days in the UK and at Shore.
He was invalided at Haslar Hospital, suffering from Palpitation contracted in the service of the Admiralty on 6th July 1863.
George Cambridge, was born in Monkton Combe, Bath, Somerset, circa 1831.
He attested for service having been a labourer at the age of 20, in Bath, on 13th November 1851, to claim a good bounty of £3-17-6.
His ships sevice:
HMS St Jean D’Acre, 29th October 1853 – 2nd January 1855, 1 year 66 days
HMS Sampson, 2nd November 1855 – 3rd May 1861, 5 years 183 days.
Most of the time here spent on detachment with the “Royal Marine Battalion” on shore.
After signing up and joining 4 Company Royal Marines on 13th November 1853.
He first embarked for service in Crimea on board HMS St Jean D’Acre from 29th October 1853 until 2nd January 1855, when he earned this Baltic Medal.
After returning back he transferred to the “Artillery Companies” on 15th January 1855, at the Royal Marine Barracks, Woolwich.
Later that year he set off on HMS Sampson, for China on 2nd November 1855.
For his extensive services in China, he was entitled to an enviable 3 Bar Medal, a very rare honour.
By the time of the award he was ending his service, and they were issued unnamed.
He has the following battle honours from his papers:
1. Attack and Capture of Canton 1857, for this he earned his first clasp “CANTON 1857”
2 Brigades Captured Canton under Major General Charles Van Straubenzee, in modern day Gunagzhou, China on 28th December 1857.
The 1st Brigade under Colonel Holloway consisted of the:
1st Bn Royal Marine Light Infantry
2nd Bn Royal Marine Light Infantry
George would have been in the 2nd Brigade under Colonel Graham, consisting of:
Royal Engineers
One Coy Volunteer Sappers
Royal Artillery
Royal Marine Artillery
Provisional Battalion Royal Marine Light Infantry
HM 59th Regiment of Foot
38th Madras Native Infantry
2. Peiho 1858, The Pei-Ho Rivers is home to what is more commonly known as the “Taku Forts”, this capture ended the first part of the war of 1857-8.
After a battering from the ships cannons, the Naval Brigade and Royal Marines, along with some Sappers of the R.E. were landed to commence the capture.
There was about 350 Marines under Lt Colonel Thomas Lemon, and a specialist detachment of Sappers under Major Fisher of the Royal Engineers, with some “Bluejacket” Sailors of the Naval Brigade.
3. Peiho 1860, Another Capture of the Taku Forts, in August 1860, now the British were more prepared and brought a larger force to make the attack earning the second “TAKU FORTS 1860” clasp.
The final operations to finish off the war commenced in August 1860, a landing was made at Pehtang and the Allied Forces stormed the Taku Forts making their way through a very small breach. The storming parties entered and were engaged in intense hand to hand fighting, during which 5 Victoria Crosses were earned.
Most of the garrison were wiped out, leading Pekin ready for capture.
4. Advance to Pekin “PEKIN 1860”
The British Force then fought their way to the capital and finally forced the surrender, they looted the Emperor’s Summer Palace and in return for their troubles, burnt it down, the allied Frenchmen refused to assist in this.
