ASHANTEE MEDAL 1874-1874

[Guest Darrell]

Instituted on the 1st June 1874 for award to British, Colonial and allied native forces deployed against the army of the Ashanti King Koffee Kalkalli, which was threatening the British Gold Coast Protectorate. As the C-in-C of the main British operations, Sir Garnet Wolseley put it : "An invading army of Ashantis numbering between twenty and thirty thousand men, having overrun the Fanti territory, has occupied threatening positions within an easy march of Her Majesty's Forts at Elmina and Cape Coast Castle. The country is filled with alarms of intended attacks upon our settlements ; public confidence in us is at a very low ebb, every movement on our part is known to the enemy, regarding whose intentions, movements, numbers, or even exact position, little information is possessed by our authorities."

A few minor actions took place in the latter half of 1873 against the Ashanti that had crossed the Prah river into British controlled territory. In early 1874 after a build up of forces a campaign was launched to drive back and punish the Ashanti. The coup de grâce was delivered on the 31st January at the battle of Amoaful - after many hours of heavy fighting - in which the Black Watch (42nd Regt) was the prime mover. Immediately after this the capital Coomassie was occupied, and an (intentionally unacceptable) ultimatum was put before the Ashanti King by Wolseley - to surrender his mother and brother as hostages to the British or see his capital Coomassie destroyed. On the 6th February Coomassie was raised to the ground. Peace was agreed on the 13th February 1874 via the Treaty of Fommanah which included the Ashanti king paying the British 50,000 ounces of gold and halting the practice of human sacrifice.

Description: Obverse; the diademed, veiled head of Queen Victoria and the inscription VICTORIA REGINA. Reverse; a scene of bush fighting between British and Ashanti, as inspired by the campaign. (this reverse was use on other medals).

Clasps: one, COOMASSIE this was awarded to those present at Amoaful and the capture of the capital, or those protecting the lines communication north of the Prah river.

Naming: In engraved quite neat square looking serif capitals, character height about half the rim width. The vertical parts of the letters are quite thick in appearance. Lettering was originally blackened in, but frequently this does not survive the passage of time.

Ribbon: yellow with black edges and two narrow black central stripes.

The reverse of the Ashantee medal was designed by Sir Edward John Poynter, the famous British neo-classical painter, designer, draughtsman and art administrator. Poynter was born Paris in 1836, the son of the architect Ambrose Poynter. He Studied in London, Rome and Paris. His first breakthrough was the acclaimed painting of a Roman sentry steadfast at his post during the destruction of Pompeii "Faithful unto Death" (1865), and soon became well known for his historical Paintings such as "Israel in Egypt" (1867) and "Visit the Queen of Sheba to King Soloman" (1890).

Poynter became first Slade Professor from 1871 to 1875, Principal of the National Art Training School from 1875 to 1881, Director of the National Gallery from 1894 to 1904 and Royal Academician in 1876. On the death of Sir John Millais in 1896, Poynter was elected President of the Royal Academy from 1896 and received a knighthood. He was made a baronet in 1902. Poynter married Agnes Macdonald - one of four sisters who married quite famous individuals; Georgiana married Edward Burne-Jones, (pre-Raphaelite artist). Louisa married Alfred Baldwin (Industrialist and father of Stanley Baldwin, prime minister from 1923-1929 & 1935-1937.) and Alice married John Lockwood Kipling, the issue of which was Rudyard Kipling.

Sir Edward Poynter died in London in 1919 aged 83.

Edited June 5, 2010 by Darrell

[Guest Darrell]

The following Ashantee Medal (w/ COOMASSIE Clasp) was awarded to 2084 Private Aurthur Bowles of the F Company of the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade.

Engraved along the edge with the typical 1873-4 style known to Army Units.

1. Obverse:

Edited June 5, 2010 by Darrell

[Guest Darrell]

Closeup of COOMASSIE Clasp:

[Guest Darrell]

Closeup of Obverse:

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Reverse:

[Guest Darrell]

Closeup of Reverse. They just don't make medals with this detail anymore .... as disturbing as it may seem:

[Guest Darrell]

Engraved Naming along the rim of the disc. The complete naming takes up almost the entire rim

NOTE* You see vertical lines on the rim that appear to be waves ... that's the reflection of my backyard fence in the background ... couldn't figure out what that was at first

a.

Edited June 5, 2010 by Darrell

[Guest Darrell]

b.

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c.

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d.

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e.

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f.

[Guest Darrell]

Bowles listed on the Rolls for entitlement to Medal and Clasp:

[Guest Darrell]

Closeup of the Name at the very top:

[Guest Darrell]

Listing of members of "F" Company. Bowles near the bottom:

[Guest Darrell]

Closeup of name:

[Guest Darrell]

Hope you enjoy.

[Brian Wolfe]

Hello Darrell,

What a great post, well researched and presented and the photos, as usual, are fantastic.

This is one (of the many) medals I have yet to add to my collection...so many medals so little time.

This must be one of the most detailed reverses on any medal, there is so much going on that you can't really take in all in with your first look.

Thanks again for yet another first class post.

Regards

Brian

[Guest Darrell]

Thanks Brian.

I should try and take an actual "Digital" picture of the reverse. Looking at it with a Loupe there is even greater detail and highlights that these scans do not do it justice, if you can believe that.

[leigh kitchen]

Lovely medal as always Darren - that pawnbroker's mark tells its own tale as well I suppose.

Pawned by the recipient or his NOK or decendants because of real necessity, to feed the kids, fuel an alcohol dependency, or due to lack of interest?

[Mervyn Mitton]

Good addition, Darrell. Always sought after for collections.

Leigh - you have good eyesight - I had to go back and look hard........

[Guest Darrell]

Thanks Guys ! :cheers: