VICTORIA CROSS MEMORABILIA: AN ORNATE 15CT GOLD POCKET WATCH...

Hammer

£1,700

VICTORIA CROSS MEMORABILIA: AN ORNATE 15CT GOLD POCKET WATCH FOB WITH CENTRAL RED CARNELIAN INTAGLIO ENGRAVED FOR VICTORIA CROSS AND 'CHARLES DAVIS LUCAS 21ST JUNE 1854'

17cm in length
Weight 24gms

Rear Admiral Charles Davis Lucas VC was an Irish-born Royal Navy officer whose gallantry in 1854 was the earliest action that led to the award of the Victoria Cross, the highest British award, which is for gallantry in the face of the enemy. He reached the rank of rear admiral during his time in the navy.

Lucas was born in Druminargal House, County Armagh, on 19 February 1834. He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1848 at age 13, served aboard HMS Vengeance, and saw action in the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852–53 aboard the frigate Fox at Rangoon, Pegu, and Dalla. By age 20, he had become a mate.

For his gallantry during the Battle of Bomarsund of the Crimean War, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for the following deed:

On 21 June 1854 in the Baltic, HMS Hecla, with two other ships, was bombarding Bomarsund, a fort in Åland off Finland. The fire was returned from the fort, and at the height of the action a live shell landed on Hecla's upper deck, with its fuse still hissing. All hands were ordered to fling themselves flat on the deck, but Lucas with great presence of mind ran forward and hurled the shell into the sea, where it exploded with a tremendous roar before it hit the water. Thanks to Lucas's action no one on board was killed or seriously wounded by the shell, and accordingly he was immediately promoted to lieutenant by his commanding officer.

Lucas was personally presented with the Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at the first VC investiture held at Hyde Park, London, on 26 June 1857.