ASHANTEE MEDAL

ASHANTEE 1873-74, NO CLASP TO A CAPTAIN IN THE 1ST WEST INDIA REGIMENT, WHO COMMANDED C COMPANY DURING THE CAMPAIGN

ASHANTEE 1873-74, NO CLASP ‘CAPT: F. SHEARMAN. 1ST W. I. REGT. 1873-74’.

Francis Shearman was born on 11 July 1834, being made 2nd Lieutenant on 19 January 1855. He was advanced Lieutenant on 5 September 1856, Captain on 11 April 1862 and Major on 2 November 1875.

He is mentioned in the Regimental History of the West India Regiment:

'On the 15th of November, the two companies (C and H) from Nassau, under the command of Major Strachan, arrived at Jamaica, and, on the 3rd of December, the head-quarters and five companies (B, C, E, G and H), under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell, embarked at Kingston on board the hired transport Manitoban. Proceeding to Barbados, A Company, which had been moved from Demerara, was embarked on the 9th of December, and the same evening the regiment sailed for the Gold Coast, arriving at Cape Coast Castle on the 27th, and disembarking on the 29th, 575 strong. The officers serving with the expeditionary force were Lieutenant-Colonel Maxwell, Major W.W.W. Johnston, Captains Sampson, Butler, Niven, J.A. Smith, Steward, and Shearman, Lieutenants Allinson, C.J.L. Hill, Bale, Molony, Cole, Bell, Clough, Elderton, Beale-Browne, and Barne, and Sub-Lieutenants Harward, Spitta, Hughes, Burke, Edwardes, Tinkler, and Ellis.

On Sunday, the 18th of January, the transport being now in sufficient order, owing to the number of carriers driven in from the surrounding districts by the regiment, the advance of the army commenced, and the head-quarters of the 42nd Regiment marched from Mansu; their left wing, and 100 men of the 23rd Fusiliers, moving up from Yancoomassie Fanti, and occupying their lines for the night. The Rifle Brigade moved simultaneously to the front from the stations ahead.

Next morning, E Company, under Captain J.A. Smith, marched with the left wing of the 42nd for the Prah, and G Company, under Captain Steward, came up to Mansu from Dunquah, leaving A and C Companies, under Captains Niven and Shearman, at Dunquah and the Adjumaco district.'

He retired with the rank of Honorary Lieutenant Colonel on 24 November 1877.

Condition VF small EK or better. Attractive patina.