The rareFirst New Zealand Wars, Crimea, China group of four to Henry Skedgell of the Royal Marines.

 

Henry Skedgell was born in 1829 in the parish of Halwell, near the town of Totnes, Devon. He was a labourer prior to enlisting in the 115th Company of the Portsmouth Division, Royal Marines on 17 November 1842, aged 23 years. On attesting he received a bounty of £3.17s.6d. Following recruit training he served aboard his first ship H.M.S. Caledonia from 4 July to 29 November, 1844. He was then transferred to Racehorse which sailed to join the Pacific Station. He served in this vessel from 24 December 1844 to 24 August 1848. During this time he was landed in New Zealand, North Island for service on shore with the ship's Naval Brigade, commanded by Commander J. Hay of the Racehorse and under the overall Command of Captain Graham of the Castor. The Marine Detachment was under the Command of Captain Langford R.M. of the Castor. The Naval Brigade took part in numerous battles, actions and skirmishes including 'Bats Nest' against Chief Ricape Kapeka in December 1845 and January 1846, and also in the up-river actions at Wanganui in December 1846 (ADM 1/5579 refers).

On the return of Racehorse to England he was paid off to the Plymouth Division on 25 August 1848. He next embarked aboard Arethusa on 22 January 1849, and remained in this ship for five years until 15 January 1855, when he returned to the Plymouth Division. Whilst aboard Arethusa he was landed with the Royal Marine Brigade on shore and served in the trenches before Sebastopol during 1854-55. His services on shore being recognised by the award of the Queen's Crimea Medal with clasp 'Sebastopol' and the Turkish Crimea Medal. Whilst aboard Arethusa he was promoted to Corporal on 1 March 1855. On paying off from Arethusa in January 1855 he served on shore with the Plymouth Depot until he embarked aboard Centurion on 6 April 1856. After 22 days aboard this vessel he was returned ashore before joining Hogue on 24 May 1856. He served in this vessel for just over two years and disembarked to the Plymouth Division on 28 February 1858.

On 1 March 1858 he joined Nile for passage to Sans Pareil, serving on the China Station where he took part in the closing operations of the Second China War 1857-60, receiving the Second China War medal without clasp, and promotion to Sergeant on 7 January 1860. He landed from Sans Pareil, as part of the Royal Marine Brigade that saw service in Mexico, 10 November 1861 to 21 April 1862.

He next embarked aboard Terror, 22 April to 14 May, 1862, transferring to Nile, 15 May to 23 July, 1862, and then to the receiving ship Imaum based in Jamaica prior to joining Aboukir on 26 August 1862. He continued to serve in this vessel until 4 April 1865, when he was pensioned ashore having completed 22 years and 173 days service, of which 17 years 235 days were afloat and 5 years 305 days were on shore. He appears to have failed to have been recommended for his Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, despite very good and exemplary character assessments.

 

New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1845 to 1847 (H. Skedgell. Pte. R.M., H.M.S. Racehorse) officially impressed naming; Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued; China 1857-60, no clasp, unnamed as issued; Turkish Crimea 1855, British issue, unnamed as issued, mounted for display, good very fine or better. Comes with full service file.

 

36 New Zealand Medals issued with this Reverse date, all to H.M.S. Racehorse, of which 9 are to Royal Marines and 2 to Naval Officers.