Prize, Training Ship, Nursing & Other Medals from the James N. Spencer Collection

Exmouth Training Ship Medal, by W. J. Taylor, London, figure of Hope standing by rocks on the seashore, mantle flowing behind, one hand raised, the other resting on an anchor, a sailing ship in the background, all enclosed by a plain band; reverse: inscription in raised letters (name and date engraved), ‘’England expects every man to do his duty, Presented to Den Carroll on board the Training Ship “Exmouth” for Special Good Conduct 26 June 1886’, 38mm., silver, swivel ring suspension; another, in the form of an anchor with lifebelt, reverse engraved, ‘Training Ship “Exmouth” Presented to J. Hines for Special Good Conduct and Ability, July 10th 1913, 41 x 28mm., silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 1912, very fine and better (2) £60-80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Prize, Training Ship, Nursing & Other Medals from the James N. Spencer Collection.

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In 1875 the Metropolitan Asylums Board set up a Poor Law Training School and were lent the 2nd rate ship-of-the-line Exmouth (built in 1854) for that purpose. The ship was moored in the lower Thames at Grays, Essex. The ship replaced the Goliath which had been destroyed by fire in December 1875. Like similar ships, the school provided an education and nautical training for the boys in its care and prepared them for service in the Royal and Merchant Navies. In 1903 the Exmouth was found to be unfit for further service and in 1905 she was replaced by a new purpose built training ship bearing the same name. The new Exmouth was rigged as three-masted barquentine and had accommodation for 750 boys and staff. With the outbreak of the Second World War all the staff and boys were evacuated to Burnham-on-Crouch. The ship then became the H.Q. of the river fire floats and in 1942 was converted to a Minesweeper depot ship for service with the Royal Navy, spending the remainder of the war at Scapa Flow. After the war she returned to London and was fitted out as a school for potential Mercantile Marine officers and in 1946 was renamed the Worcester. Moored in the Thames at Greenhithe, she remained there until the 1960’s. She was eventually sold and used as private yacht based in Vancouver.