A scarce New Zealand medal dated ‘1865’ awarded to Boy 1st Class Martin Swain, H.M.S. Eclipse

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1865 (Mtn. Swain, Boy 1st Cl., H.M.S. Eclipse) officially impressed naming, good very fine £600-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters.

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Provenance: Donald Hall, September 1987.

Only 19 medals with this reverse date to the Navy, including 6 to the Eclipse.

Martin Swain was born in Dublin on 8 February 1846. He joined the Navy on 25 May 1861, as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. Ajax, aged 15. He subsequently served in Miranda from September 1862, being advanced to Boy 1st Class from May 1863; Eclipse from February 1865, being advanced to Ordinary Seaman from September 1865; Falcon from September 1866, and qualified as ‘Trained Man’ from February 1867; Caledonia from October 1868, being advanced to Able Seaman from October 1870 despite a spell in ‘gaol’; Favourite from October 1872 to 20 March 1874, when discharged to shore. Sold with copied record of service.