The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, no clasp (F. Snell, Leadg. Seamn. H.M.S. “Melita”) contemporary engraved naming, good very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Frank Snell was born in Mylor, Cornwall, on 14 July 1872 and was a labourer before joining the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. GANGES on 26 July 1887, aged 15 years. He transferred to IMPREGNABLE (September 1888) and advanced to Boy 1st Class on 10 October 1888, next serving aboard AGAMEMNON (June 1889), BOADICEA (September 1889) where he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 14 July 1890, VIVID (June 1891) where he was advanced to Able Seaman on 19 August 1891. He subsequently served aboard the following ships and shore establishments: CAMBRIDGE (October 1891), VIVID I (June 1892), ANSON (October 1892), EMPRESS OF INDIA (September 1893), VIVID I (May 1895), CAMBRIDGE (May 1895), and MELITA (September 1895). Service in the latter vessel off the Sudanese coast gained him entitlement to the Khedive's Sudan medal without clasp. He was advanced to Leading Seaman on 13 April 1898 and served next aboard CAMBRIDGE (January 1899) and VIVID I (April 1890) being invalided ashore on 5 May 1899. Insufficient length of service disqualified him from receiving a L.S. & G.C. medal, but he was awarded a Naval Pension suggesting that his medical discharge was a result of service life.