IGS Burma 1885 Royal Navy

Description India General Service Medal 1854, VR, bar Burma 1885-7, John Kirk Howe, HMS Bacchante, Royal Navy, scarce impressed issue to RN, long serving Sailor and Coastguard man.      Officially impressed: “J. K. Howe, A.B. H.M.S. Bacchante”   Confirmed on the medal roll.   This clasp scarce to the Royal Navy whose medals are officially impressed unlike Army examples which were script engraved, about 253 medals issued to the Bacchante.   During their service in the Anglo-Burmese War it was recorded that 3/4 of the ships crew were detached to serve on gunboats in the Irawaddy River or in the suppression of Piracy.     James Kirk Howe, was a boy of just 15 years old when he first joined the Royal Navy during 1876, he would go onto serve for 20 years, seeing a brace of promotions during his time on the Bacchante going from Able Seaman when earning the medal to Leading Seaman and then Petty Officer 2nd Class before departing the ship.   Later during 1889, he chose to transfer and finish out his service with the Coast Guard, becoming Commissioned Boatman at Newhaven during 1894.   In his 20th year of Navy Service, and quickly approaching his pension, he tragically died from Pneumonia, leaving him discharged as dead on 7th May 1896.   “FUNERAL OF A COAST GUARD   The funeral of John Kirk Howe, Commissioned Boatman of the Ventnor Detachment of Coastguards, took place on Monday afternoon at Ventnor Cemetery with full naval honours.   Headed by the firing party of 26 men and bugler (drawn from the Foreland to Blackgang, and commanded by Chief Officer Buike), with arms reversed, the funeral cortege passed through the town to the impressive strains of the ‘Dead March’ in Saul, played by the band of the Ventnor Detachment L.W. Rifle Volunteers, whose expressed wish to attend the funeral was gladly accepted.   The Reverend A.P. Clayton performed the burial service, the coffin, as usual, being borne to the graveside covered with the Union Jack, the bearers being Chief Boatman Kennedy of Woody Bay and Mackin of Blackgang and men of the Ventnor Detachment.   The solemn ceremony was concluded with the firing of 3 volleys over the open grave.   Captain Douglas commanding the district, was in command of the Coastguardmen, and among the mourners were Mr J. CLarke (Retired Chief Officer), Messrs Northcote, Young and Williams (Retired Coastguardsmen), Mrs Howe (Widow) and Mr G. Howe (Brother), were the chief mourners.   A large number of wreaths and other devices in flowers were placed on the grave. The officer and crew of Blackgang sent an anchor pricked out in white flowers, lined with blue heather, on a mossy background; the crew of the Woody Bay detachment and their wives also an anchor in white flowers, with chain represented by blue forget me not; the officer and men of the Ventnor detachment a cross of imitation flowers in a glass case. The inscription on the coffin plate was: ‘John Kirk Howe, died May 7 1896, aged 34 years.’”     Born on 3rd July 1861 in St Pancras. Son of Kirk Howe (John Kirke Howe born 1828 in Longstone, Derbyshire), an Army Pensioner from the Regiment of Life Guards. He did not however inherit his fathers large stature, being a 6 foot tall Household Cavalry Men, whereas John was about 5 foot 6 when full grown.   Joined up aged 15 at HMS Endymion as Boy 2nd Class on 22nd July 1876. Boy 1st Class at HMS St Vincent on 25th July 1877.   Became of age, Ordinary Seaman on HMS Monarch 3rd July 1879. Served on HMS Monarch again from 26th March 1880 – 26th Jan 1882, becoming Able Seaman during 1881.   He then earned this medal during his time on HMS Bacchante from 14th April 1885 – 6th November 1888.   During that period he was promoted to Leading Seaman on 1st April 1886. Followed by Petty Officer 2nd Class on 26th July 1888, taking on the role of Captain of the Mizen Top.   On 15th January 1889, he chose to transfer over to become a Boatman with the Coast Guard, spending the last part of his career at Newhaven with them, during this time he rose to Commissioned Boatman on 1st December 1894.   He was discharged dead on 7th May 1886.