An Ashantee War and Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal pair awarded to Serjeant H. Harris, Royal Marines who was present during the Ashantee War whilst attached to HMS Active being 1 of 568 men of this ship to receive the medal. He would later go on to receive the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst serving aboard HMS Immortalite.
Pair: Ashantee Medal 1873-1874, no clasp; (H. HARRIS. SERJT. R.M. H.M.S. ACTIVE.) Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Victoria, (HENRY HARRIS SERGT. R.M. H.M.S. IMMORTALITE.) both with silver buckle top bar suspenders.
Condition: both with silver buckle top bar suspenders.
Henry Harris was born in the parish of Boswell, Wroxall, Warwickshire and giving his trade as Farm Labourer enlisted at Chipping Norton on 26th January 1861 initially service as a Private with 114 Company, Portsmouth Division until 15th August 1863 when he transferred to Orontes, with whom he served until transferring to Malborough on 4th November 1863 remaining there until 1st December 1864 when he disembarked and rejoined Portsmouth Division ashore on 2nd December 1864 being promoted to Corporal on 11th May 1865.
On 25th December 1867 he would transfer to 82 Company and embarked Asia where he would serve until 6th April 1868, when he transferred back ashore with the Portsmouth Division for a week., then transferring to St. George from 7th April 1868 from 30th June 1869, when he would join Achilles, a posting he would hold until 29th October 1870 when he would transfer back ashore with the Portsmouth Division. He would be promoted to Sergeant with the 54 Company with whom he served from 7th March 1872 until 9th December 1873 when he transferred to 32 Company.
He would serve with the African Battalion from 10th December 1873 until 24th February 1874 including during the Ashantee Medal being 1 of 568 men of Active to receive the medal, he would then embark the Sprite to be transported back to the UK where he arrived on 24th July 1874. He would serve aboard Immortalite from 25th July 1874 until 21st May 1877, when he was paid off. He would then see the remainder of his service with the Portsmouth Division from 22nd May 1877 until 7th February 1882 when he was discharged. He had been promoted Colour Sergeant with 22 Company on 1st January 1881.
