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

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1845 to 1846 (W. Traveller, Painter, H.M.S. Osprey) officially impressed naming, nearly extremely fine £700-800

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

Ex Douglas-Morris Collection, DNW October 1996.

William Traveller's medal was sent on 25 October 1870. Only 11 medals (7 to R.N. ratings and 4 to R.M. N.C.Os. and men) were awarded to H.M.S. Osprey, of which 7 are known, all with reverses dated 1845-1846 (3 to R.N. ratings and 4 to R.M. N.C.Os and men).

William Traveller was born on 27 May 1820, at Brighton, Sussex. He joined the service as an Ordinary Seaman in March 1840 and continued to serve almost continuously until May 1879, when he was awarded the LS & GC Medal after serving for 37 reckonable years.

‘The beautiful man-of-war, the Osprey brig, 12 guns, was lost 12 miles north of Hokianga on Wednesday 11th at 3 p.m. The previous day she had stood in to Hokianga and fired two guns to announce to the pilot that she had arrived, and stood off for the night in bad weather and visibility. The next day she stood in again, and entered the breakers of 'False Hokianga'. Thinking she was crossing the bar, she stood on under sail and finally struck. Guns were thrown overboard to lighten ship, but at low tide she was high and dry, and the ship's company was able to disembark. The heads at False Hokianga are very similar to the entrance to Hokianga proper.” (Ref. J. O'C. Ross The White Ensign in New Zealand).