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INTRODUCTION

James Boon was 4ft 9¼inches tall, with light hair and blue eyes in 1864.

James Boon joined the Royal Navy on 1st July 1861 as a Boy 2nd Class. His first ship was HMS Cumberland, a 70-gun wooden sailing ship of 2200 tons. On 19 January 1864 he joined HMS Princess Royal, a 91-gun wooden screw ship of 4500 tons and 400HP. Commanded by Captain Jones, Princess Royal sailed for the East India and China Station, where she was the Flagship of Rear-Admiral King. On his 18th birthday James enlisted for 10 years. 

On 13 June 1865 James joined HMS Penguin. There is a small note on his service record next to 'Princess Royal' which says 'Penguin tender'. HMS Penguin was a 570 ton 5-gun gunvessel, screw propelled, so perhaps she was used as a tender to the larger Flagship. James appears to have left Penguin on 7 July 1866 and his service record ends with a note 'W.I. August '66'. He was awarded a pension of 6d a day.

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