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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 367

Four: Able Seaman H. Greenslade, Royal Navy

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, no clasp, dated reverse (H. Greenslade. A.B. H.M.S. "Achilles"); Africa General Service 1902-65, 1 clasp, Benin 1897 (H. Greenslade, P.O.1. Cl., H.M.S. Widgeon); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R. (H. Greenslade, P.O. 2nd Cl., H.M.S. Howe.); Khedive's Star 1882, unnamed as issued, minor edge bruising and contact wear, overall good very fine (4)

Henry Greenslade was born at Tiverton, Devon on 25 January 1858 and enlisting with the Royal Navy as Boy Class II on 21 October 1873 being given the number 84328. Reaching his majority with the Battleship Invincible in January 1876 he was further advanced Able Seaman on 1 October 1877 with Cambridge.

Joining Achilles the next year, Greenslade was with this vessel when she served as a depot ship at Malta. From here she played a role in supplying the British forces during the Anglo-Egyptian War. This earned Greenslade the Egypt medal but with no clasp. He was promoted Leading Seaman after the conflict in 1887 while at Nelson.

Greenslade continued to serve being advanced Petty Officer class I on 27 April 1894 ashore while with Vivid. It was in this rank that he served with Widgeon during the Benin expedition, the Illustrated London News on 27 March 1897 described the role of this vessel, stating:

'On the 8th the fleet at different times weighed anchor, and proceeded to the Forcados Fiver, some - namely, the St. George, Theseus, and Forte- to anchor outside, and the smaller ships, Philomel, Phoebe, Widgeon, Magpire, Barrosa and Alecto, to go up the river to the base, The P. and O. Malacca now arrived from England, bringing the Marine Battalion mentioned above, and stores of every description, and having on board all the appliances for attending on the wounded, and three Naval Hospital sisters. The stores were taken up to Warrigi, which had been selected as the base of operations'

Surviving the expedition, Greenslade saw some further service with Leander and Magdala but was eventually pensioned on 9 February 1901. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 25 June 1902 and served there until January 1908 when he was finally discharged due to age.

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£250