A SCARCE ASHANTI 1896 AND EAST AND WEST AFRICA PAIR AWARDED TO A ROYAL HIGHLANDERS COMPANY SERGEANT WHO WAS POSTED TO THE 2ND WEST INDIA REGIMENT IN 1895

ASHANTI STAR 1896, UNNAMED AS ISSUED; EAST AND WEST AFRICA 1887-1900, 2 CLASPS, 1897-98, SIERRA LEONE 1898-99 ‘1835 COY SEJT MAJOR J. ADAMS, 2: W.I. REGT’

James Adams was born in Auchinlea, Stoneham, and initially served with the 3rd Militia Battalion, Royal Highland Regiment. He then attested for the Royal Highlanders aged 18 years and 4 months in 1884. Having been promoted Sergeant by March 1889, he qualified as Musketry Instructor on 1 May 1891. Reduced to Corporal for drunkenness in 14 September that year, he was appointed Lance Sergeant on 6 October 1894. Serving in West Africa from March 1895, he was posted to the 2nd West India Regiment as Company Sergeant Major on 17 August 1895. He served with this Regiment during the Ashanti War of 1895-6 (Bronze Star), home service between March and November 1896. Serving in West Africa again between November 1896 and August 1898, serving during the campaigns in Sierra Leone and the Lagos Hinterland (EWA Medal and 2 clasps). He spent the next 6 months on home service before being posted to the West Indies until December 1902, followed by 6 months home service and then back to West Africa until December 1905. Returning home, Company Sergeant Major Adams was discharged after 22 years and 4 months service, 10 October 1906, with the intention of residing at 92 Rosebank, Dundee.

Ashanti 1895-96 by I. McInnes and M. Fraser gives ‘The four CSM’s were almost certainly white soldiers seconded from British Regiments.’. As this is confirmed to be true with Adams, presumably it was the same with the other three CSM’s.

Condition NVF, some contact wear. Sold with copied research.