Turkish Crimea Medal 1855

Sardinian type. Awarded to Sir George Morice. Obverse: a field gun with a map of the Crimea upon it, a mortar, anchor, &c., and the four flags of the Allies behind. Exergue: 'LA CRIMEA 1855'. Reverse: The Sultan's cypher and inscription within a laurel wreath tied with a bow. Inscription: '1271' (Arabic date). Suspended from a cupsed bar on a watered crimson ribbon with green edges. On a bar with one other.

George Morice (1837-1904) was the son of Commander George Farquhar Morice RN. He entered the Navy in on 29 April 1851 as master’s assistant in ‘Plumper’ and ‘London’. The latter took part in the bombardment of the Konstantin Battery at Sevastopol during the Crimean War. He served in ‘Acorn’ from 27 January 1856 to 13 May 1857 during the Second Opium War, under the command of William Acland Hood, and at that time was engaged in blockading the Canton River. Then as 2nd master in ‘Staunch’ during the same conflict, he participated in boat actions at Escape Creek and Fatshan Creek during 1857. Morice was promoted Lieutenant on 11 January 1859, for ‘Gallant service in China’ - an action against four pirate junks. He then served in ‘Flying Fish’ in the Channel Squadron from February 1860 to 10 July 1861. Then in ‘Forte’ from 29 October 1861 to 28 January 1862, at that time on the Brazil Station and the flagship of Vice-Admiral Richard Laird Warren. Morice then moved to ‘Oberon’ on the same station. He was given command of HMS ‘Hardy’ on the China station from 13 August 1864 until 31 March 1867 when the ship was paid off. Returning to the United Kingdom, he served on coast guard vessels ‘Revenge’ at Pembroke Dock from September 1867 to March 1869 and ‘St George’ at Portland. He was promoted to commander’s rank in 1869. With the agreement of the British Government, he entered the service of the Khedive of Egypt in in 1871. He was present at the bombardment of Alexandria and on shore at Port Said and Suez during the Anglo-Egyptian War. He was appointed Captain of the Port of Suez on 18th May 1871, moving to Port Said the following year; Deputy-Comptroller-General of Egyptian Ports and Lighthouses from 1879, Comptroller-General from 1879; and commander of the Egyptian Marine from 1885 to 1901. He retired from the Royal Navy with the rank of Captain in 1874 but held a rank equivalent to Vice-Admiral in Egyptian Service.