United Kingdom. A Canada General Service Medal, to Able Seaman George Alfree, Royal Navy
Great Britain; 1 Clasp - FENIAN RAID 1866 (A.B. Seaman G. Alfree Royal Navy.). Naming is officially impressed. Replacement ribbon, edge nicks, bruised, very fine. Accompanied by copies of his service records from the National Archives.
Footnote: George Alfree was born in Westminster, London, on October 31, 1844. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class (55054) at H.M.S. Victory on June 14, 1859, at the age of 14. He was posted to HMS Diadem on August 2, 1859 and promoted to Boy 1st Class on June 20, 1861. Alfree entered the rolls of HMS Pylades on April 16, 1862, enlisting on October 31, 1862 for ten years' service and was promoted to Ordinary Seaman on December 1st, then to Able Seaman on April 27, 1864. HMS Pylades was to serve on the North American and West Indies Stations. While serving with HMS Pylades, Alfree served in Canada at the time of the Fenian Raids of 1866. Able Seaman George Alfree is shown on the roll of the 297 man Royal Navy contingent and is listed on page 12 of the "Canada General Service Medal Roll, 1866-70" by John Thyen, entitled to the Fenian Raid 1866 clasp. The Canada General Service Medal roll indicates that George Alfree also served aboard the gunboat HMS Royal, "on river & lakes during the raid". While at Montreal, HMS Royal was fitted out and despatched through the St. Lawrence Canals and River. She was armed with an Armstrong 12-pounder and a brass howitzer forward, and an Armstrong 12-pounder aft. Her batteries around the bow and stern were cased with iron for the protection of the men working the guns, and her wheel-house protected with sand-bags, for protection against rifle fire. The gunboat was crewed by sailors from the Pylades including Alfree. After his service in Canada, Able Seaman Alfree was posted to HMS Excellent on November 8, 1866.
He was posted to HMS Pandora as an Able Seaman on March 20, 1868, becoming a Leading Seaman on May 1st, reverting to Able Seaman on December 22, 1868 and returning to the rank of Leading Seaman on June 22, 1870. After twenty-seven months with HMS Pandora, he was posted to HMS Excellent on September 27, 1870, re-engaged for ten years' additional service on November 2, 1872, reverting to Able Seaman on January 1, 1873, then posted to HMS Eclipse on November 20th. Over the next twelve years, he would see postings with HMS Eclipse, Excellent, Euryalus, Duke of Wellington and Unicorn, becoming a Petty Officer 2nd Class on December 1, 1875 and a Petty Officer 1st Class on July 29, 1877 while with HMS Eclipse. Petty Officer 1st Class George Alfree left the Royal Navy on November 30, 1885 following his service aboard HMS Unicorn, credited with having served over twenty-six years in the navy.