THE ASHANTEE MEDAL 1873-74 TO PRIVATE ROBERT SUTHERLAND, 71ST (HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY) AND HMS ACTIVE, PROBABLY A UNIQUE AWARD TO THE 71ST FOOT, THE 71ST FOOT NOT BEING PRESENT

THE ASHANTEE MEDAL 1873-74 TO PRIVATE ROBERT SUTHERLAND, 71ST (HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY) REGIMENT (THE POST 1880 1ST BATTALION HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY) AND HMS ACTIVE, PROBABLY A UNIQUE AWARD TO THE 71ST FOOT, THE 71ST FOOT NOT BEING PRESENT AS A UNIT DURING THE ASHANTEE CAMPAIGN OF 1873-74.

ASHANTEE MEDAL 1873-4, no clasp (officially named, engraved in the correct style for this medal, in blackened serifed capital letters “R. SUTHERLAND, . 71st. : H.M.S. ACTIVE. 73-74).

Attractively toned, Almost Extremely Fine.

An interesting medal with naval issue style naming dated “73-74″ in the naming, as opposed to army issues, which are dated ‘1873-4”

Medal accompanied by Chelsea Pensioner’s record for Robert Sutherland, along with copied extracts Pay Lists (Muster Rolls) for the 71st Foot for the periods January – March 1873 (compiled in Gibraltar) and 1st October – 31st December 1874 (compiled in Malta).

Chelsea Pensioners Register records Robert Sutherland as having purchased his discharge on 22/9/1881, after having seen 7 years and 233 days service with the colours, indicating that Sutherland enlisted circa February 1874, mid way through the Ashantee campaign of 1873-74.

The 71st Foot was stationed in Gibraltar in the spring of 1873, embarking at Gibraltar for Malta on 24/4/1873 and landing at Malta on 30/4/1873.

Robert Sutherland does not appear in the earlier January – March 1873 71st Foot pay list, when the 71st Foot was stationed in Gibraltar, compiled prior to the commencement of the Ashanti campaign of December 1873 – July 1874.

There is, however, one R. Sutherland in the 71st Foot muster roll for October – December 1874, when the 71st Foot was stationed in Malta, a 159 Private Robert Sutherland.

Robert Sutherland does not appear in the 71st Foot Muster Rolls until the October – December 1874 roll because, prior to that, he was en-route to join his regiment in Malta.

Sutherland would appear to have reached Malta by a somewhat circuitous route, involving a number of ships, including HMS Active.

HMS Active sailed for West Africa from Plymouth on 25/10/1873, arriving at Cape Coast Castle on 14/11/1873, prior to Sutherland’s enlistment. She remained stationed off the coast of West Africa and saw service during the Ashantee campaign until the conclusion of the campaign in July 1874, after which she sailed for Southern Africa, arriving at Simon’s Bay, 4/11/1874. Since HMS Active left England prior to Sutherland’s enlistment, he would have had to make his way to West Africa on another ship or ships, prior to seeing service aboard HMS Active, and completed his journey to Malta aboard another ship. These various ships that Sutherland traveled on prior to arriving in Malta not traced. His service papers, if they can be located, might assist in identifying the ships involved.

HMS Active, a Volage class Corvette, was launched in 1869. She served as the flag ship of the Commander in Chief of the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa station between 1873 and 1874 and first saw active service during the Ashantee war of 1873-74, participating in the naval operations, and some of her crew being landed to reinforce the forces ashore.

568 Ashantee Medals to officers and men of HMS Active (116 Coomassie clasps to British personnel and 150 Coomassie clasps to native kroomen).