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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 115

(x) Pair: Ward Room Officer's Servant F. W. Daniell, Royal Navy

Egypt 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Alexandria 11th July (F. W. Daniell. W.R.O.Svt. H.M.S. "Euphrates"); Khedive's Star 1882, mounted for display, very fine (2)

Frederick William Daniell was born at Portsea, Hampshire on 7 September 1863 and was the son of Michael John Daniells and Mary Jane Smith. He enlisted into the Royal Navy on 28 September 1881 and was appointed a Domestic 3rd Class and was assigned to Crocodile. This was a transport ship, and in December it carried the 2nd Derbyshire Regiment from Portsmouth to Gibraltar. On 12 July, he transferred to Euphrates, which was the sister ship of the Crocodile. Re-commissioned at Portsmouth on July 12, 1882 the same day the Bombardment of Alexandria concluded, the ship immediately began transporting British infantry and specialized engineer units to Egypt to suppress the Urabi Revolt. A notable incident occurred on December 19, 1883, when the vessel ran aground off Gibraltar, though she was successfully refloated the following day. For this service, he qualified for the Egypt medal without clasp inscribed to him as a Wardroom Officer's Servant. For the remainder of 1884 he briefly served aboard Crocodile and Canada. He transferred to Serapis, which ferried reinforcements to Egypt to support General Wolseley's Gordon Relief Expedition. He was now a Domestic 2nd Class, and he continued to serve on various ships until he was discharged to shore at his own request. Following this, he worked as a boatman until his death in 1933.

There is an interesting article in the Portsmouth Evening News dated 22 June 1933, Page 3 titled A Blind Hero Who Both Fought and Rescued dies at Portsea. This reads in part:

'A pensioned Chief Petty Officer, totally blind, crippled with rheumatism, and the holder of two Royal Humane Society medals, besides decorations for the Zulu War, Egyptian Medal and Star, RN Good Conduct, and Lloyds Board of Trade Medal, has died at Portsea, and will be more missed for his immense kindness of heart and unassuming charity than many a man in a higher walk of life.'

It appears that Frederick Daniell lived another life of tall stories which is worthy of further research, the article further states he became a licenced waterman and, in that capacity, saved no fewer than 30 people from a watery grave. He is confirmed as being awarded at least one of the Royal Humane Society Medals when he rescued two brothers in 1894. He is not entitled to the clasp Alexandria 11th July as the Euphrates was docked in Portsmouth at this time.

Sold with various photocopied research to include a copy of the newspaper article announcing his death in June 1933.

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

Estimate
£200 to £240

Starting price
£160