A good India General Service Medal 1854-1895, 1 Clasp: Burma 1885-7, impressed in serif capitals to Able Seaman J. Lushey, H.M.S. Ranger who was 1 of 59 men from that ship to receive this medal and clasp.
India General Service Medal 1854-1895, 1 Clasp: Burma 1885-7; impressed in serif capitals; (J. LUSHEY. A.B. H.M.S. RANGER.)
Condition: Good Very Fine
John Lushey was born at West Ham, Stratford on 7th October 1855 and on 5th April 1871 gained his parents permission to join the Royal Navy for ten years continuous service from the age of 18, in additional to whatever period may be necessary until he attain that age, initially serving aboard H.M.S. Invicible He then formerly joined Invincible on 7th October 1873 as a Boy 1st Class, being promoted to Ordinary Seaman on 7th October 1873, he then saw service aboard ‘Research’, ‘Cruiser’, ‘Invincible’ once more, and then ‘Alexandra’ before he was promoted to Able Seaman on 22nd December 1878. He would subsequently serve aboard ‘Inconstant’, ‘Lord Warden’, ‘Duncan’, ‘Duke of Wellington’, ‘Repulse’, ‘Neptune’ and ‘Duncan’ before serving aboard H.M.S. Ranger from 3rd April 1884, being one of 1 of 59 men from that ship to be awarded the clasp ‘Burma 1885-7’ for his service during the Third Burma War. H.M.S. Ranger’s part in the action is described by W.L. Clowes in the Naval Brigade in Upper Burma:
‘In operations against the dacoits, the Ranger, 8, Commander John Pakenham Pipon, did long and arduous work which is deserving of remembrance. Three of his officers, Lieutenants Charles Brownlow Macdonald and Henry Faulconer Aplin, Gunner Thomas Holman, and Pipon himself, patrolled the waters of Upper Burmah in steam launches for a considerable period, and had several skirmishes with dacoits. Holman won special distinction by concealing himself and eight seamen in a native boat, Which he allowed to drift past the resort of a band of river pirates, who were thus tempted to fire upon him. Returning the fire, he killed five of the enemy, and then landed and destroyed their village, suffering no casualties. For this he was congratulated by General Sir F. S. Roberts, and thanked on the quarter-deck by Rear-Admiral Sir F.W. Richards. Lieutenant Macdonald was, unfortunately, killed in action with dacoits at Shemagar on January 9th, 1887. Lieutenant Aplin, having received an injury to his sight while soldering a tin of gun-cotton, had to be relieved. Commander Pipon was deservedly promoted on January 1st, 1887.’
Lushey would remain with H.M.S. Ranger until 31st October 1887, subsequently seeing service aboard ‘Duncan’ and ‘Dart’ before his discharge from ‘Pembroke’ on 19th October 1892.