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

Pair: Able Seaman F. E. Minkey, Royal Navy

China 1857-60, no clasp, unnamed as issued; New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1863 to 1865 (Frcs. Minkey, A.B. H.M.S. Eclipse) officially impressed naming, naming lightly rubbed, edge bruise, otherwise very fine or better (2) £600-700

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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The China War medal was sent to H.M.S. Eclipse on 9 February 1867. The New Zealand War medal was sent to his brother, Thomas Minkey, on 19 January 1871, Francis Minkey having been Discharged Dead from the receiving ship H.M.S. Duke of Wellington. This is an unusual instance of the issue of the medal after death.

75 medals (13 to R.N. officers, 49 to R.N. ratings, and 13 to R.M. N.C.Os. and men) were awarded to H.M.S. Eclipse for the Second New Zealand War, of which 34 are known including 11 with reverses dated 1865, 3 with reverses dated 1863-1864, one with reverse dated 1864-1866, and the balance with reverses dated 1863-1865.

Francis Minkey was born at Portsea, Hampshire, on 19 January 1841. He joined the service as a Boy 2nd Class in St Vincent on 30 May 1856, signing on for a 10 year Continuous Service from the age of 18. He transferred to the Princess Charlotte in 1857 for the East Indies and China Station and then to Acorn in 1860, in which he earned his China medal as a Boy 1st Class. In 1861 he served aboard Orpheus (wrecked on the bar across Manukau Harbour, Auckland on 7 February 1863) on the Australian Station and then was transferred to the receiving ship Seringapatam at the Cape of Good Hope in 1862. He next served aboard Eclipse from 13 April 1863 in New Zealand waters and was lent to the Waikato Flotilla from 27 July to 2 August 1863. He then moved to Curacoa for service in the Waikato Flotilla from 14 February to 26 March 1864, and then to Harrier from 19 to 24 April 1864. He was discharged to the receiving ship Duke of Wellington from Eclipse when she was paid off on 9 February 1867, from where he was Discharged Dead.