Campaign Groups and Pairs

Pair: Able Seaman (later Lieutenant) F. Smith, Royal Navy, who was present at El-Teb as Captain’s Coxswain to Captain A. K. ‘Tug’ Wilson when that officer was awarded the Victoria Cross on 29 February 1884 Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 3 clasps, Alexandria 11th July, Suakin 1884, El-Teb (F. Smith, A.B. H.M.S. “Hecla”); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, attempted ‘erasure’ of rate on the first and contact pitting from star, otherwise nearly very fine (2) £500-£700 --- Clasp for ‘El-Teb’ scarce to the Royal Navy and one of only 8 to H.M.S. Hecla. Frederick William Smith was born on 6 January 1859 in Southampton. He joined the Navy on 8 June 1874, as a Boy 2nd Class having been a ‘servant’ before this. Advanced to Boy 1st Class on 9 June 1875, and to Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class on 6 January 1877, when he took a 10 years engagement with Official Number 86570. He advanced to Ordinary Seaman on 1 September 1877, to Able Seaman on 22 August 1878, and to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 1 October 1882, having joined Hecla on 26 May 82. He was advanced to Petty Officer 1st Class on 8 May 1883, and became a Captain of the Gun on 1 December 1883. Judging by the Medal Roll he was also locally appointed as Captain's Coxswain to Captain Arthur Knyvet Wilson in Hecla at about this time. In Hecla he took part in the action off Alexandria on 11 July 1882, whilst still an Able Seaman. A year and half later, the ship was in the Red Sea and was engaged off Suakin between 19 February and 26 March 1884. During this period Smith accompanied his Captain with one other officer and five other ratings when Captain Wilson decided to walk up to El-Teb on 29 February 1884, and found themselves in a square during that battle. As Captain’s Coxswain (a personal appointment made on board), it is not impossible that Smith was very close to his Captain during the episode for which Wilson was awarded the V.C. under the following circumstances: ‘This officer, on the staff of Rear Admiral Sir William Hewett at the battle of El Teb on 29 February 1884 attached himself during the advance to the right half-battery, Naval Brigade, in the place of Lieut Royds, Royal Navy, mortally wounded. As the troops closed on the enemy's Krupp battery, the Arabs charged out on the corner of the square, and on the detachment who were dragging the Gardner gun. Captain Wilson then sprang to the front and engaged in single combat with some of the enemy, thus protecting his detachment until some men of the Yorks and Lancaster Regt. came to his assistance. But for the action of this officer, Sir Redvers Buller thinks that one or more of his detachments must have been speared’. On 30 September 1884, Smith left Hecla and joined the Gunnery Training Ship Excellent the following day. On 29 January 86, he was promoted to Gunner's Mate and on 21 June 1887, to Gunner (Acting Gunner in Rating's record of service). He received Good Conduct Badges on 6 Jan 80 and 6 Jan 85, but was promoted before he could be eligible for the third or for the medal. For the next 20½ years he served in this rank in a variety of ships and shore establishments before being promoted to Chief Gunner on 12 March 1908, and eventually to Lieutenant on 3 June 1911. He died of pneumonia on 19 June 1913, whilst serving on the staff of Captain Superintendent Torpedo Boat Destroyers (Building) at the age of 54½ and after 39 years in the Navy. Sold with copied rating’s and officer’s records of service and other research.