Description
India General Service Medal, 1854, bar Burma 1885-7, T. H. Vernon, Engine Room Artificer, HMS Bacchante.
Officially impressed: “T. H. Vernon, E.R.A. HMS Bacchante”. Slight faint pawn broker mark to reverse.
253 bars awarded to the Bacchante.
Ex Ron Tuppen Collection of Naval Medals to Engine Room Officers.
Medal roll shows the medal was delivered to the Volage on 19th March 1890.
Thomas Henry Vernon was born in Lambeth, London, Middlesex on 17th November 1862.
He married Mary Ann Adelaide Fawkes at the age of 21 in Portsmouth on May 25th 1884 whilst working as an Engine Fitter. However whilst he was away at Sea, she died and was buried on 13th April 1887 in Portsmouth, Kingston Cemetery.
He first attested for service for 8 years having worked as a Fitter, he joined HMS Asia as Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 11th May 1885. He held the service number 133007.
He saw the following ships service over his service:
HMS Asia, 11th May – 4th Sept 1885
HMS Sphinx, 5th Sept 1885 – 21st Nov 1885
HMS Bacchante, 22nd November 1885 – 15th May 1886
HMS Turquoise, 16th May 1886 – 30th Set 1887
HMS Ruby, 1st Oct 1887 -7th April 1888
HMS Asia, 8th April 1888 – 30th Sept 1888.
HMS Excellent, 1st Oct 1888 – 4th Nov 1889
HMS Asia, 5th November 1889 – 10th Dec 1889
HMS Volage, 11th Dec 1889 – 6th June 1890
HMS Asia, 17th June 1890
HMS Melpomene, 17th June 1890 – 31st October 1893.
He chose to take his discharge by purchase earlier than finishing his 12 years from the Melpomene which cost him £12 on 31st October 1893.
There was another Thomas Henry Vernon born during the same month in Islington, London, who was a Solicitor, but this Thomas Henry Vernon, born also in November but in Lambeth, London, appears to disappear from official records after his discharge, possibly he immigrated abroad. At the time HMS Melpomene was stationed on the Pacific Station.
The unusual circumstance of his discharge, which was very costly at the time at £12 and light pawn broker mark on the reverse suggest he was possibly raising money in a hurry.
