The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Six: Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, El-Teb (A. E. Sprague, A.B. H.M.S. Serapis); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (A. Sprague, A.B. H.M.S. Bacchante); 1914-15 Star Trio (97558. Sig. R.N.); Khedive’s Star 1884, some pitting, otherwise very fine or better and scarce (6)

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

View
Collection

Approximately 150 officers and men from various ships were present at the battle of El-Teb.
Alfred Sprague was born in Clifton, Somerset, on 28 September 1860. He entered as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. IMPREGNABLE on 6 September 1876, and advanced to Boy 1st Class during September 1877. Subsequently served aboard H.M. Ships INVINCIBLE (1878-82) where he was advanced to Ord in November 1879, SERAPIS (1882-84) where he was made an A.B. during October 1883 and earned this campaign award. Whilst aboard his next vessel BACCHANTE (1885-86) he earned his Burma campaign clasp, and was afterwards drafted to H.M.S. OSPREY (1886-89) and a little later whilst aboard DUKE OF WELLINGTON was made a Qualified Signalman on 17 July 1889. He then decided to join the Coast Guard, being made a Boatman on 10 November 1889, advanced to Commissioned Boatman on 1 January 1899 in which rate he was pensioned to shore on 10 November 1899. He re-entered the service as an A.B. (Pensioner) to serve on VERNON's books from 30 September 1901 until 25 January 1903. For WW1 he was called up on 2 August 1914 to serve as an A.B. aboard H.M.S. MONARCH until 31 December 1914, but was invalided from the service on 3 February 1915. During his career he lost two Good Conduct Badges, hence no L.S. & G.C. award.