New Zealand 1845-66, reverse undated (W. Atkins, Qr. Mr. H.M.S. “Niger” 1860-61) impressed naming, suspension crudely repaired and fitted with a replacement claw, therefore good fine

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

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His New Zealand medal was issued on 25 October 1878.
Born Walmer, Kent on 26 January 1821. First entered the service as a Boy 1st Class aboard H.M.S. MALABAR on 5 March 1838, and drafted to H.M.S. IMPLACABLE on 4 August 1840, attaining the rate of "Ord" in August 1841 prior to being paid off in January 1842. Subsequently served aboard H.M. Ships FORMIDABLE as an Able Seaman (1842-45), BITTERN (1845-49) and CASTOR (1849-52), and joined GRECIAN in September 1852 to become Captain of the Mast (November 1853) and Boatswain's Mate in September 1854 until April 1856. As a Quarter Master he was drafted to H.M.S. NIGER from April 1856 and was finally pensioned with 22 years service on 26 March 1861. Since for his first eight years in the service his Character Assessment was only classified as "Good", this would appear to be the most likely reason for his lack of a recommendation for the LS & GC medal.