Three: Petty Officer Henry Smith, Royal Navy

Baltic 1854-55 (Henry Smith, H.M.S. Algiers); New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1863 to 1864 (Hy. Smith, A.B. H.M.S. Miranda) officially impressed naming; Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (H. Smith, Py. Offr. 1.Cl. H.M.S. Active. 73-74) light contact marks, otherwise very fine (3) £700-900

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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Henry Smith's New Zealand War medal was issued on 30 May 1871. 91 medals (11 to R.N. officers, 62 to R.N. ratings, and 18 to R.M. N.C.Os. and men) were awarded to H.M.S. Miranda for the Second New Zealand War, of which 39 are known, all with reverses dated 1863 to 1864.

Henry Smith was born in Brompton, Kent, on 1 April 1838, and first served aboard Meander in September 1852 as a Boy 2nd Class, aged 14 years. He was transferred to Algiers in May 1854 and served in her until February 1856, earning promotion to Boy 1st Class in August 1855 and the Baltic Medal. In February 1856 he signed for 10 years Continuous Service (No. 29,059), was promoted to Ordinary 2nd Class, and transferred to Daisy for service until September of the same year when he was again transferred, to Shannon until April 1857. He then joined Boscawen from which he deserted. He re-entered Boscawen on 13 August 1858 from desertion and was imprisoned for 94 days until 14 November, in addition forfeiting more than two years service. He continued serving in the Boscawen until September 1860, in the process earning promotion to Ordinary and transferring to Miranda on 15 September, in which he continued to serve until February 1865. During his service aboard Miranda he earned the Second New Zealand War medal. He was transferred to Esk and was again promoted to Leading Seaman, transferring to Meeanee in October 1867, being promoted successively to Captain of Fore Castle, Coxswain of Cutter, and Captain of Main Top, in which rate he was transferred to the Rodney (October 1868 to February 1869), the Princess Charlotte (February 1869), and Perseus (March to September 1869). On 1 October 1869 he began his second 10 years of Continuous Service (No. 10490) in H.M. Reserve at Sheerness. He then served aboard the Euphrates (October 1869 to June 1873) being promoted to 1st Class Petty Officer, before being transferred to Duke of Wellington (June to October 1873) and then Active (October 1873 to March 1874) during which time he earned the Ashantee War medal. Further service ensued on Duke of Wellington (March to June 1874), Monarch (June 1874 to July 1877), Duke of Wellington (July to September 1877) and finally Enchantress (September 1877 to September 1880) when he was pensioned to shore with three Good Conduct Badges and 18 years and 188 days reckonable service over a period of 28 years.

Sold with about 25 pages of copies of two entries in C.S. Engagement Book, Seaman's Services, and verification of all three medals.