An interesting Ashantee Medal 1873-74, 1 Clasp: Coomassie awarded to Able Seaman, later Lieutenant Commander J. Coleman, Royal Navy who would be 1 of 39 men attached to HMS Argus who saw service ashore during the Ashantee War and who would earn entitlement to an Ashantee Medal with clasp Coomassie. Remarkably still serving at the time of the Great War, he would end his service as a Lieutenant Commander having seen early war service aboard the armed boarding steamer HMS Stephen Furness.
Ashantee Medal 1873-74. 1 Clasp: Coomassie; (J. COLEMAN. A.B. H.M.S. ARGUS 73-74)
Condition: Good Very Fine
John Coleman was born in Brighton, Sussex on 28th February 1854 and joined as a Boy 1st Class on 26th January 1872 initially serving with Duke of Wellington until on 26th March 1873 when he would transfer to Argus with whom he served in West Africa during the Ashantee War being 1 of 39 men to receive the Ashantee Medal with clasp Coomassie. He would be promoted to Able Seaman on 1st February 1874, then Leading Seaman on 1st April 1876 then Petty Officer 2nd Class on 10th December 1876, leaving the ship on 17th May 1877.
He would transfer to Wye from 18th May 1877 until 12th June 1877, before returning to Duke of Wellington from 13th June 1877 until 14th September 1877, he would then serve with Excellent from 15th September 1877 until 2nd May 1878, Boadicea from 3rd May 1878 until 28th February 1882 being promoted Petty Officer 1st Class on joining.
He would be shore expired on 28t February 1882, but would rejoin Excellent on 8th June 1882, then Dido from 23rd February 1883 until his next appointment aboard Forward as a Boatswain from 9th December 1885 until 12th January 1887, his appointments would then be Pembroke from 13th January to 31st March 1887, Revenge from 1st April 1887 until 8th March 1890, Triumph from 9th to 15th March 1890, Indus from 16th March to 1st April 1890, Trafalgar from 2nd April 1890 to 3rd March 1892, Humber from 4th March to 19th September 1892, Vivid from 28th September 1892 to 30th January 1893, Triumph from 31st January to 28th August 1893, Warspite from 29th August 1893 to 31st December 1896, Howe from 1st January 1897 to 10th January 1898, Vivid from 11th January to 4th April 1898, Jackal from 5th April 1898 to 9th April 1901, Vivid from 10th April 1901 to 2nd January 1905, Barfleur from 3rd January 1905 until 3rd April 1905, being appointed Chief Boatswain on 30th January 1905.
He would transfer to Vengeance on 4th April 1905 serving there until 4th May 1908, then Vivid from 5th May to 14th July 1908 when he was promoted to Lieutenant. He would remain attached to Vivid to 31st December 1914, He would then be posted to Stephen Furness on 1st January 1915 remaining there until on 8th March 1916 when he was posted to Thalia, promoted Lieutenant Commander he left Thalia for Vivid on 23rd June 1917, finally being discharged on 4th May 1919.
