The New Zealand war medal awarded to W. G. Underdown, Ship's Cook on board the...

The New Zealand war medal awarded to W. G. Underdown, Ship’s Cook on board the Eclipse New Zealand 1845-66, reverse dated 1863 to 1865 (W. G. Underdown, Ship’s Cook, H.M.S. Eclipse) nearly extremely fine £600-£800 --- Importation Duty This lot is subject to importation duty of 5% on the hammer price unless exported outside the UK --- --- Provenance: Alan Hall Collection, June 2000. 69 medals issued to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines with these reverse dates, all to H.M.S. Eclipse. William G. Underdown was born on 7 January 1820, in the parish of Upnor, Kent. He joined the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Blenheim as a Boy 2nd Class on 19 April 1839. Whilst he was in this ship he was promoted to Boy 1st Class on 3 November 1842. On joining Skylark in June 1843 he was rated Gunroom Steward and in this rank he subsequently served in the following ships; Speedy February 1845, Griffon April 1846, Rifleman February 1850. Somewhat surprisingly whilst in the latter ship he was rerated Ordinary Seaman in March 1852. On next joining Dolphin in August 1853 he was again rated Gunroom Steward. In his next ship Phoenix April 1854 he was rated an Able Seaman and on joining Spy in July 1854 he was rated Captain's Steward. In Terror which he joined in May 1857 and remained for four years he was rated Ship's Cook, a rate in which he continued to serve aboard Icarus January 1861 and Eclipse October 1862. During the four year commission he served in Eclipse, mainly on the Pacific Station, he was landed for service on shore with the Ship's Naval Brigade in 1863. Over the next two years the officers and men of Eclipse took part in the Second Taranaki Campaign including the attack on Katikara and Ta Tarairnaka in 1863, the Waikato War of 1864 when she was the first ship to enter Waikato Heads, and the Taranaki War in 1865. Whilst serving with the Waikato Flotilla in November 1863 the Naval Brigade took part in this action at Rangiriri. In addition to landing men for service on shore Eclipse entered the rivers and took part in bombardments of the enemy forts. Her 110 pdr Armstrong gun was particularly useful in this role. In 1865 the ship's Naval Brigade supported the military operations at the Bay of Plenty and the East Cape. In February 1864 the ship's Naval Brigade took part in the actions at Te Awamutu and Rangiawhia and in April 1864 the action at Gate Pa, Tewranga. On the return of Eclipse to England in February 1867, he was paid off and next served aboard Camelion April 1867, and Orwell June 1871. He was discharged to shore with pension from Orwell on 14 July 1873, having served 21 years 143 days. He was not awarded a Long Service & Good Conduct medal as his character assessments varying from Very Good, Good, and Fair to Indifferent served to debar him from the award. Sold with full service details.