Description
Crimea Medal, engraved H. Collom, HMS Arethusa, later a commissioned Carpenter in the Royal Navy.
Officially Engraved by Hunt & Roskell: “H. Collom. H.M.S. Arethusa”
Confirmed on the Medal Roll, “Hy J. Collom” a Caulker’s Mate is shown on the medal roll, his medal being “Sent to Dragon 15/2/56”.
See identical officially engraved medal to Edward Hyson, of the same ship illustrated in the Crimean Medal Book “By Order of Her Majesty”, page 73.
Also confirmed on the Baltic Medal Roll, having earned this further medal on his next ship, HMS Dragon, this medal delivered unnamed to him on the Wanderer 11th June 1857, an unnamed Baltic medal would be fitting to add.
Carpenter First Class Henry James Collom was born on 14th April 1827, in Devonport, Devon, being baptised at Stoke Damerel.
The son of a Mariner, George Collom and Mary.
His father George was we believe also a fellow commissioned Carpenter George Collom, served as Carpenter for a remarkably long career from 1799 until 1833.
At the time of the Crimean War, he would have been in his Mid 20s, and earned this Medal as Caulker’s Mate on HMS Arethusa.
On 1st March 1860, he received his “First Warrant” becoming commissioned as a Carpenter, a Warrant Officer Rank in the Royal Navy, recruited from the Carpenter ratings of the service.
He was promoted to Second Class on 23rd December 1864 and First Class on 15th February 1873.
He was Carpenter of the Buzzard from 2nd July 1861 – 20th August 1861
Styx, 20th August 1861 – 2nd Feb 1865, West Indies & North American Station.
Glade, 3rd Feb 1865 – 7th November 1866
Rattlesnake, 22nd June 1867 – 26th April 1871, Remarks from his Captain: “Conducted himself very much to my satisfaction, Commodore Dowell Octr 68, A Very Good Carpenter – Commodore Dowell, April 1871” On West Coast of Africa anti slavery patrols.
HMS Indus 1st Jan 1873 – 3rd June 1874.
HMS Daedalus, 4th June 1874 until pensioned on 3rd May 1877.
Following his retirement he returned home to Devonport, Devon, shown there on the 1891 Census as a “Retired Carpenter RN” living with his family.
He died there during 1898.
