An Interesting EAST & WEST AFRICA MEDAL ("WITU 1890") To: CHARLES HOSKING. H.M.S COSSACK. A Stoker From Torpoint, Cornwall. A troublesome sailor with time in the cells & 28 Days Hard Labour in Bodmin Jail, October 1893.

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An Interesting EAST & WEST AFRICA MEDAL ("WITU 1890") To: CHARLES HOSKING. H.M.S COSSACK. A Stoker From Torpoint, Cornwall. A troublesome sailor with time in the cells & 28 Days Hard Labour in Bodmin Jail, October 1893. An Interesting EAST & WEST AFRICA MEDAL ("WITU 1890") To: CHARLES HOSKING. H.M.S COSSACK. A Stoker From Torpoint, Cornwall. A troublesome sailor with time in the cells & 28 Days Hard Labour in Bodmin Jail, October 1893.

An Historically Interesting
EAST & WEST AFRICA MEDAL
("WITU 1890")

To:
CHARLES HOSKING.
H.M.S COSSACK.


Born 23rd May 1857 in Torpoint, Cornwall and previously a labourer, Charles Hosking joined the Royal Navy on 12th June 1877 at Devonport as a Stoker CL2 aged 20. A troublesome sailor who spent regular time in the cells of various ships.
An Interesting EAST & WEST AFRICA MEDAL ("WITU 1890") To: CHARLES HOSKING. H.M.S COSSACK. A Stoker From Torpoint, Cornwall. A troublesome sailor with time in the cells & 28 Days Hard Labour in Bodmin Jail, October 1893. Served 28 Days Hard Labour in BODMIN JAIL between 1st October 30th October 1893.The navy were clearly keen to get rid of him as he was discharged the service "Due Age" on his 50th Birthday, 23rd May 1907 after six years in the R.F.R.

An Interesting EAST & WEST AFRICA MEDAL ("WITU 1890") To: CHARLES HOSKING. H.M.S COSSACK. A Stoker From Torpoint, Cornwall. A troublesome sailor with time in the cells & 28 Days Hard Labour in Bodmin Jail, October 1893. (HMS COSSACK) The Third R.N. ship with this name she was a third class Archer type Torpedo cruiser. Built at Clydebank of 1,950 tons and launched in June 1886. She saw much service in East Africa, including the Witu expedition in 1890 with a crew of 176 men. Armament was 8 x 6" guns, 8 x 3pdrs, 2 Machine guns and 3 x 14" Torpedo tubes. She was sold in April 1905.

(BODMIN JAIL) Bodmin jail was designed by Sir John Call and built in 1779 by prisoners of war, and was operational for 150 years, in which it saw over 50 public hangings. It was the first British prison to hold prisoners in individual cells.The Debtors Act of 1869 abolished imprisonment for debt so the prison had spare space that was taken over by the Admiralty for naval prisoners. Punishment for naval prisoners consisted of the “cannon ball catch" designed to keep you fit for battle on your release. Eventually, the naval prison occupied an entire wing of the building, before it was closed in 1922.

The jail is currently undergoing renovation and is open to visitors

One wonders what finally became of Charles Hosking after his discharge into civilian life at age 50 after 30 years in the Royal Navy.
An excellent and important medal in EF with superb further research potential.
With copy service sheet. £550.

An Interesting EAST & WEST AFRICA MEDAL (

An Interesting EAST & WEST AFRICA MEDAL ("WITU 1890") To: CHARLES HOSKING. H.M.S COSSACK. A Stoker From Torpoint, Cornwall. A troublesome sailor with time in the cells & 28 Days Hard Labour in Bodmin Jail, October 1893.
£550

An Historically Interesting EAST & WEST AFRICA MEDAL ("WITU 1890") To: CHARLES HOSKING. H.M.S COSSACK. A Stoker From Torpoint, Cornwall. A troublesome sailor with much time in the cells & 28 Days Hard Labour in Bodmin Jail in October 1893.