Lot Essay
Approximately 150 Officers and Ratings from various ships were present at El-Teb.
Able Seaman Alfred E. Sprague was born in Clifton, Somerset in September 1860 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. Impregnable in September 1876. Advanced to Boy 1st Class in the following year, to Ordinary Seaman in November 1879 and to Able Seaman in October 1883, he was landed from H.M.S. Serapis for service with the Naval Brigade at El-Teb in February 1884. Next appointed to H.M.S. Bacchante, he witnessed further active service off Burma, and in July 1889, while abroad H.M.S. Duke of Wellington, became a Qualified Signalman. Pensioned in November 1899, following service as a Commissioned Boatman in the Coast Guard, Sprague was called up in August 1914 for service as an Able Seaman (and Signalman) aboard H.M.S. Monarch, but was invalided out in February 1915. His earlier forfeiture of two Good Conduct Badges precluded him from qualifying for the L.S. and G.C. Medal.
Able Seaman Alfred E. Sprague was born in Clifton, Somerset in September 1860 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard H.M.S. Impregnable in September 1876. Advanced to Boy 1st Class in the following year, to Ordinary Seaman in November 1879 and to Able Seaman in October 1883, he was landed from H.M.S. Serapis for service with the Naval Brigade at El-Teb in February 1884. Next appointed to H.M.S. Bacchante, he witnessed further active service off Burma, and in July 1889, while abroad H.M.S. Duke of Wellington, became a Qualified Signalman. Pensioned in November 1899, following service as a Commissioned Boatman in the Coast Guard, Sprague was called up in August 1914 for service as an Able Seaman (and Signalman) aboard H.M.S. Monarch, but was invalided out in February 1915. His earlier forfeiture of two Good Conduct Badges precluded him from qualifying for the L.S. and G.C. Medal.