Description
Baltic Medal 1854-5, Turkish Crimea, British issue, engraved to Colour Sergeant Joseph Deeks, Royal Marines.
Both medals contemporarily engraved: “Jos. Deeks, R.M.”
Also both fitted with decorative engraved silver pin brooch ribbon bars, the Turkish Crimea with Crimean medal style swivelling suspension.
His matching Crimea Medal, engraved in the same style is around, being sold by Rock Island Auctions in 2012 and resurfacing in England with Wellington Auctions during 2013.
He also earned the coveted Wide Suspension Naval LSGC Medal and later upgraded to the Edward VII issue of the Royal Marines Meritorious Service Medal, being one of only 37 such awards, 5 decades after serving in Crimea, the MSM is recorded as extant.
With a file of research including his service records, and an old copied letter to the Royal Marines Historian from 1964, inquiring about these 2 medals from a Gillingham Collector, a Mr Wigley.
As well as an old cutting of his obituary and full size Illustrated London News page for the war.
His obituary from a newspaper cutting included reads:
“MR JOSEPH DEEKS
Another of the fast diminishing band of Crimean Veterans has just passed away in the person of Mr Joseph Deeks, a former resident of Gillingham for many years, but who had latterly been living at Leytonstone, where his death occurred on the 3rd inst at the ripe age of 83.
He enlisted in the Royal Marines as a young man, and retired with the rank of Colour Sergeant, subsequently entering H.M. Prison Service.
He possesses no fewer than 6 medals, including those for Sebastopol, Inkermann and Balaklava. He was twice married, and his second wife is still living.
The Funeral took place at Gillingham on Saturday. The coffin was borne to the cemetery on a gun carriage, drawn by 6 horses, and 8 Sergeants of the Royal Marines acted as bearers.
The private mourners were Mrs Deeks, his Widow, Mr E. Mills his nephew, Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr J.N. Gardner his Great Nephew.
Several Officers of the Corps, and a number of the old warrior’s comrades also followed. There was a beautiful collection of floral tributes.” “Among the beautiful wreaths was one from the deceased old corps designed to represent the device of the Royal marines – the globe and laurel wreath.”
Another obituary adds “The old Gnetleman, who was well known and highly respected “The veteran had been an active temperance worker for upwards of half a century, and had been a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars from its formation.”
Joseph Deeks, was born in the parish of Great Oakley, Harwich, Essex.
Enlisting for service aged 19 and 6 months old on 3rd February 1847.
He would go on to serve until 20th March 1868, until completing his full 21 years to pension.
Appointments:
Private, 3rd Feb 1847 – 30th Jan 1852
Corporal, 31st Jan 1852 – 31st Dec 1852
Private, 1st Jan 1853 – 14th March 1856
Corporal, 15th March 1856 – 23rd April 1860
Sergeant, 24th April 1860 – 20th March 1868.
He had a slight slip up, on 31st December 1852, whilst possibly celebrating New Years Eve but was caught for “When on duty allowing a party under his charge to get drunk”, which had him reduced to Private.
On 3rd December 1858 he was found “Breaking leave 76 hours” being deprived of some leave and on 12th October 1865, “Neglect of duty when Sergeant of the Barrack Guard” for which he was admonished.
Out of his 21 years of service, 13 years 313 days were spent afloat, with 7 years 100 days ashore.
He served on the following ships:
Lucifer & Trident, 22nd January 1848 – 31st March 1851
Maeander, Algiers & Battn Balaclava, 10th July 1852 – 26th February 1856
HMS Iris (or Isis”), 3rd Jan 1857 – 3rd August 1861
Formidable, 2nd Oct 1864 – 1st Oct 1865
Prince Consort, Victoria, Gibraltar and Royal Oak, 3rd July 1866 – 13th Dec 1867.
Even with a few slip ups, he managed to maintain a “Very Good” rating and would be awarded the Naval Long Service & Good Conduct Medal on 1st February 1869.
“Sergeant Joseph Deeks is entitled to reckon 4 good conduct badges or 4d per diem towards increase of pension.
Possession of Crimean War Medal with clasp for Sebastopol, Turkish Crimean and Baltic Medal. LS&GC Medal awarded 1st Feb 1869, R.M. Memo No 71 of 1 Feb 1869”
Many decades after his discharge he was later awarded the very rare Edward VII Field Marshal Bust variety of the Royal Marines M.S.M. this was awarded to him on 26th November 1905, the medal dated 28.12.06.
Out of 37 awards, it is one of the 14 known to be in existence according to John Bilcliffe’s Book on the RM MSM “Irreproachable Character”.
