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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 87

(x) Abyssinia 1867-68 (R Swanton AB HMS Daphne), contact marks, very fine

Robert Swanton was born at Skibbereen, Cork on 26 September 1842 and enlisted with the Royal Navy on 16 May 1859 with H.M.S. Hawke. He served with a number of vessels throughout his service including Royal Adelaide, Royal Albert and Melpomene, joining the company of H.M.S. Daphne on 19 June 1967. At the time of the Abyssinian Campaign Daphne was hunting slavers between Zanzibar and Bombay, but she was soon seconded to the expedition with the intention of transporting the treasury. The British force was to be supplied with Austrian Maria Theresa dollars to be delivered to the Officer Commanding at Ansley Bay.

Swanton was issued with his medal on 17 May 1870 and remained the with the Royal Navy until 24 July 1972 when he joined the Coast Guard with the rank of Boatman. He was to serve here with Audacious, Endymion and Repulse, finally being discharged as Chief Boatman on 13 December 1891; sold together with copied research comprising service papers, an extract from Cruise of HMS Daphne and photographs of children rescued from slavers in the Red Sea.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£280

Starting price
£170