Bombardier Frederick Snadden was born in the Cape of Good Hope and attested for the Royal Artillery back in the U.K. at Sheffield in June 1871, aged 18 years. Advanced from Driver to Bombardier in August 1879, he went on to serve in the Second Afghan War with E Battery, B Brigade, R.H.A., almost certain evidence for his participation in the Battery's epic action at Maiwand on 27.7.1880 being found in his Discharge Papers, these lacking any Medical History prior to that date - having presumably been lost in the retreat - but with the special annotation stating that he suffered a leg injury on 28.7.1880. Snadden transferred to the Military Police as a Private in April 1883 and was discharged at Dover in June 1886.