Lot 5681

Description

Greenwich Hospital School, medal for Attainments and Good Conduct in silver together with original, circular, fitted case. Engraved on reverse to William Sullivan 1863. Extremely fine and scarce.

Greenwich Hospital School was a school established for the maintenance and education of the children of seamen happening to be slain or disabled. From 1756 the children wore a uniform of 'sailor's dress' with distinctive leather caps. All boys were committed to enter sea service, specifically in the navy after 1848 although later an alternative was the Royal Marines. School life was spartan, regimented and conducted 'at the double' with the boys doing all the chores such as cleaning, cooking, laundry, sewing although this was modified over time. In 1892 the school was renamed the Royal Hospital School.