Naval Brigades (China Battle of Canton 1857)

[ih01]

How would I go about finding who would have been part of the naval brigade from a certain ship at the Battle of Canton? I have an ancestor aboard HMS Cruizer and who received a medal for the Battle of Canton in 1857. I am curious as to whether or not he actually was on the ground involved in the taking of the city or still aboard the ship.

[ShaunJ]

As I read this he would have to have been present at the fall of Canton to be eligible for the Canton clasp:

[Andy J2022]

Although I don't disagree with Shaun about the Army's criteria for awarding clasps in this campaign, the OP's use of the words Naval Brigades in the title confuses the issue somewhat. The Naval Brigades were effectively sailors* fighting on land; they were not part of or under command of the Army. Therefore, if your ancestor was known to be in the Navy or Royal Marines*, then you would need to look for the Admiralty's instructions about medals and clasps. Since the Commander in Chief (HRH Prince George, Duke of Cambridge) seems to have been the authority for the Horse Guards letter, it is highly likely that the Navy policy may have differed from that of the Army as Prince George did not also command the Navy.  The head of the Navy was the First Lord of the Admiralty, and at the time we are talking about the post was held by Edward Seymour 12th Duke of Somerset. The two services were fiercely independent.

Amended:
* I should have mentioned that the Royal Marines also formed part of the Naval Brigades.

[ShaunJ]

Naval eligibility:


"Canton, 1857
To those actually present at Canton on the 28th and 29th December 1857, when that city was
bombarded and finally captured."

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/7212/page/482

[Andy J2022]

Thanks for that Shaun.

[Andy J2022]

For the benefit of the OP, there's a very helpful article on the Victorian Naval Brigades here: https://dawlishchronicles.com/reply-to-gentian-dawlishs-skills-fighting-on-land/

[ih01]

Thanks to you both, I shall read up now on what you've both replied with.