Side view of HMS Superb at sea. HMS Superb took Royal Marines, including Henry Edward 'Harry' ...

Side view of HMS Superb at sea. HMS Superb took Royal Marines, including Henry Edward 'Harry' Skinner, from England to war in the Sudan and back again in 1883 - 1884. While in the Sudan Henry Skinner fought in the battles of El Teb and then Tamaai. He later served in the Australian Army in the First World War in France and his son and three grandsons also served in the Australian Army. Born in January 1866 near Totnes, Devon, England, Henry Edward 'Harry' Skinner falsified his age, increasing it so he could enlist in the British Royal Marine Light Infantry in April 1882. 2548 Private Skinner initially served with 30 Company Royal Marines and aboard HMS Superb, and later saw service in the Sudan, fighting at El Teb and Tamaai where he was wounded in the neck in March 1884. Skinner later emigrated to Australia and was working as a 'navvy' with the New South Wales Gas Company when he again falsified his age - this time decreasing it - to enlist in the AIF in April 1916. 6328 Private Skinner embarked aboard HMAT Euripides at Sydney on 9 September 1916 with the 20th Reinforcements of the 4th Battalion. At fifty years of age, Private Skinner served in France until he was injured and returned to Australia 1917. Harry Skinner's medals are held by the Memorial at REL37777.001-.004. Harry Skinner's son, Francis Leonard (Len) Skinner and two grandsons, Harold Leonard and Laurence Frederick (Laurie) Skinner all served with the Australian Army during the Second World War. His third grandson, Roy Edwin Skinner served with the Citizen Military Forces (militia) and later the Australian Regular Army and saw extensive service with the United Nations in the Middle East. The Memorial holds additional material relating to the service of the Skinner family.