Pair: Walter Neale, Private Royal Marines, H.M.S. Active

South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1877-8-9 (W. Neale, Pte. R.M. H.M.S. “Active”); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, impressed naming (Walter Neale, Pte. R.M. H.M.S. Active) mounted on card for display, polished, nearly very fine £1,200-£1,600

Lieutenant T. W. Dowding, R.M. and 30 Royal Marines received the clasp ‘1877-8-9’ for services with the Naval Brigade landed from H.M.S. Active, from 19 October 1878 to 21 July 1879. Various other Royal Marines from Active received dated clasps for ‘1877-8’ and ‘1879’.

Walter Neale was born at Preston, near Stafford, on 20 April 1850, and enlisted into the Royal Marines on 20 August 1869, aged 19. He was discharged to pension in the rank of Corporal R.M. at Portsmouth on 3 September 1890.

Sold with brief service notes, original ribbons, and a small portrait photograph which has been cut out from a group photograph showing a marine wearing sergeant’s stripes.