An Important Collection of Medals for the Maori Wars, 1845-1866

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1860 to 1861 (W. J. Snead, A.B., H.M.S. Niger) officially impressed naming, very fine £400-450

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, An Important Collection of Medals for the Maori Wars, 1845-1866.

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Collection

66 medals (13 to R.N. officers, 37 to R.N. ratings, and 16 to R.M. N.C.Os. and men) were awarded to H.M.S. Niger of which 33 are known, including 2 to R.N. officers with reverses dated 1860, 4 to R.N. ratings with reverses undated, and the rest with reverses dated 1860-1861.

William Snead was born on 3 August 1838, in London, Middlesex. His earlier service records have not been sought but he first enlisted in 1855 and then re-engaged on 12 February 1867, for 10 years. His later records show him on the Black Prince as Petty Officer 1st Class (Trained Man) from January to July 1873, when he was transferred to Naval Barracks at Sheerness until 14 October of that year. He was then transferred to the Bellerophon in the same Rating until September 1876, when he was transferred to the Himalaya until October 1876, where he remained until February 1877.