A rare Arctic Exploration pair to Commander M.T. Parks, Royal Navy

ABYSSINIA 1867-8 (Lieut., R.N. Transt. Serve.) fitted with silver ribbon buckle; ARCTIC 1818-55 (Lieut., H.M.D.S. Enterprize) nearly extremely fine and very rare (2)

Commander Murray Thomas Parks sailed as a Mate aboard the Discovery Ship Enterprise, Captain R. Collinson, on the Franklin Search Expedition of 1850-53. In the sledge travelling of 1852 he left the ship on April 16th, and travelled up Prince of Wales' Strait. He reached Melville Island on foot, having had to leave the sledge and tent owing to the ice being too rough to drag the sledge. He returned to the sledge after an absence of 11 days, some of the crew suffering severely from frost bites. Parks finally got back to the Enterprise on June 28th, having been away for 74 days. He had been promoted Lieutenant on 11th April, 1851 and in that rank was employed with the Transport Service during the Abyssinian campaign of 1867-8, under Captain George Tryon, Director of Transports. These officers did most of their work at the base at Zoulla, in Annesley Bay, one of the hottest places on earth, and though neither interesting nor exciting the work was extremely hard in such a sweltering and unhealthy climate. Parks retired on 1st April, 1870 with rank of Commander. (ref. The Arctic Navy List 1875, various Navy List's, The Royal Navy by W.L. Clowes).