Description
India General Service Medal 1854, VR, bar Burma 1885-7, Christopher Charles Parsons, HMS Bacchante, Royal Navy, from Fisherton Anger, Wiltshire
Officially impressed: “C. Parsons, H.M.S. Bacchante.”
Confirmed on the medal roll which records his medal was issued to him on his new ship HMS Monarch on 30th January 1890.
Particularly good condition with little wear.
Christopher Charles Parsons, Navy Service Number 113325, was born on 28th January 1865 in Fisherton Anger, Wiltshire. A village which no longer exists.
The son of Master Carpenter Charles Parsons and Maria.
The family lived at 6 Wilton Road, Fisherton Anger, Alderbury, Witshire.
He joined the Royal Navy early on in life, when he was a boy of only 14 years old at HMS St Vincent on 1st September 1880.
He spent 2 years there training, starting off a Boy 2nd Class, he was promoted to 1st Class on 26th October 1881.
He went on to join the Minotaur, serving onboard from 30th may 1882 – 4th August 1884.
During this time he became of age, becoming Ordinary Seaman on 28th Jan 1883 then Able Seaman on 1st May 1884.
After some time from August 1884 to April 1885 on HMS Duke of Wellington he then joined the Bacchante.
Served on board HMS Bacchante from 14th April 1885 until 6th November 1888.
During this time he earned this medal for service in the Anglo-Burmese War of 1885-7.
An interesting fact about their time during the war it was recorded the during the war she “transferred three quarters (3/4) of her complement to serve on gunboats in the Irrawaddy River or in the suppression of banditry.”
Additional service:
HMS Excellent, 7th Nov 1888 – 9th December 1889
HMS Monarch, 10th December 1899 – 13th May 1890, during this time received this IGS medal.
HMS Excellent, 14th May 1890 – 26th May 1890
HMS Rodney, 27th May 1890 – 4th Feb 1893
HMS Victory I, 8th Feb 1893 – 20th Feb 1893, discharged to shore, service time expired.
