Pair: Lieutenant Frederick W. Smith, Royal Navy, formerly a Petty Officer (Captain’s Coxswain) from H.M.S. Hecla at the battle of El Teb where his commanding officer, Captain Wilson, R.N., won the Victoria Cross

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 3 clasps, Alexandria 11th July, Suakin 1884, El-Teb (F. Smith, A.B. H.M.S. “Hecla”); Khedive’s Star 1882, attempted erasure of rate on the first, pitting from star, otherwise better than good fine (2) £400-500

One of only 3 ‘El-Teb’ clasps to the Hecla and one of only 40 medals with this combination of clasps to the Navy.

Frederick William Smith was born at Southampton on 6 January 1859, and joined the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 8 June 1874. He joined the Hecla on 26 May 1882, as an Able Seaman, just in time to witness the bombardment of Alexandria on 11th July. Remaining in Hecla he was advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class in October 1882, and to Petty Officer 1st Class, Captain’s Coxswain, in May 1883. In that capacity he volunteered for the Naval Brigade of thirteen officers and one hundred and fifty seamen that took part in the battle of El-Teb on 29 February 1884.

Captain A. K. Wilson, R.N., also from the Hecla, won the Victoria Cross in this battle when, as the troops charged the Krupp battery, the enemy nearly broke in at the corner of the square between the 65th and the Naval Brigade, who were dragging up a Gardner gun. Captain Wilson rushed into the gap, and fighting desperately, prevented some of the seamen from being speared. His sword broke in his hand, he was wounded and would have been killed but for the support of some men of the 65th.

In October 1884 Smith attended a Gunery course at H.M.S. Excellent and was commissioned as a Gunner on 21 June 1887. He became Chief Gunner in March 1908, and Lieutenant in June 1911. He died of pneumonia on 19 June 1913, while serving on the staff of the Captain Superintending the building of Torpedo Boat Destroyers. Sold with copies of complete service record.