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WWI 1914-15 TRIO OF MEDALS, DEATH PLAQUE & EPHEMERA TO MAJ. E.A.G. SNELL, BEDF. R./K. AFR. RIF.

*** RESERVED *** 1914-15 Star to Lieut. E.A.G. Snell, Bedf. R.; WWI War & Victory Medals to Major E.A.G. Snell; Death Plaque to Eric Aylmer Goldney Snell, all mounted in contemporary memorial frames with Mention In Despatches Certificate dated 30 May 1917 signed by Winston Churchill, Major's pip and Bedfordshire Regiment title, silver hallmarked (Birmingham 1917) framed portrait of recipient made by Horton & Allday, framed King's African Rifles Officer's Memorial, framed Buckingham Palace Condolence slip, further portrait, letter from Maida Barracks, Aldershot, Bedford School Memorial Scroll and original newspaper cuttings.

Description

Eric Aylmer Goldney Snell was born on 7 July 1892 in Berbice, British Guiana, the only son of Dr. G. Snell, late of the Colonial Medical Service, and Mrs Snell of 29 Cecil Court, Redcliffe Gardens, West Brompton, London.

Educated at Bedford School and the Royal Military College, Snell was gazetted to the Bedfordshire Regiment in 1912 and seconded and appointed by the Colonial Secretary to an Assistant Commissionership in the Uganda Protectorate in 1914.

On the outbreak of war he was posted to the King's African Rifles with his date of entry into the East African Theatre recorded as 14 Sep 1914. On active service up to 1916, Snell was sent with a party of natives in search of recruits, on account of his knowledge of Arabic and Swahili languages. During the many months he was so employed, Snell traversed theSudan up to Khartoum, parts of the Belgian Congo and the White Nile region, returning with a band of 400 men who formed the nucleus of another battalion of the regiment. Made Adjutant of the battalion, Snell was commended by the General at Nairobi for his work in this connection.

Promoted to Captain with the Bedfordshire Regiment in 1916 and made Temporary Major in the King's African Rifles in August 1917, Snell was three times recommended for Mention in Dispatches, given effect on 27 Mar 1918.

Snell was Killed In Action at Mangwa, East Africa on the 16 Nov 1917, when with a detachment of the King's African Rifles. In dense jungle, they came upon a strong party of the enemy who almost surrounded them, and though they put up a good fight, Major Snell, who had killed a German, was himself surrounded by another German. Lieutenant Hawkins carried Major Snell out of action, but soon he succumbed to his wound.

Snell is buried at Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery.