Ashantee Medal 1873-1874, clasp Coomassie, awarded to Leading Seaman later Petty Officer 2nd Class J. Lucas, Royal Navy who was present in West Africa during the Ashantee War of 1873 to 1874 and at the capture of Comassie on 4th February 1874 being 1 of 118 men of HMS Active to receive the medal and clasp for Coomassie. He would later take part in the punitive expedition on the River Congo during August and September 1875 whilst serving with HMS Encounter.
Ashantee Medal 1873-1874, 1 Clasp: Coomassie; (J. LUCAS. LG SEAMAN. H.M.S. ACTIVE 73-74.)
Condition: edge-bruising at 5 o’clock and 7 o’clock, Very Fine
Joseph Lucas was born in London on 3rd November 1848 and originally joined Boscawen as a Boy 2nd Class on 19th October 1863, then joining Edgar on 19th October 1863, he would be promoted Boy 1st Class on 28th November 1864 before joining Cumberland on 15th December 1865. He would be appointed an Ordinary Saman on 3rd April 1867, joining Cameleon on 8th May 1867 and being promoted to Able Seaman on 21st May 1867. He would remain aboard until joining Britannia on 2nd June 1871, he would serve with Reserve from 6th January to 31st March 1873, and would then return to barracks from 1st April to 21st August 1873, then joining Encounter as a Leading Seaman on 22nd August 1873 until 31st December 1873. He would then join Active with who he would see service in West Africa during the Ashantee War of 1873 to 1874, and at the capture of Coomassie on 4th February 1874.
He would be 1 of 116 men of Active to receive the Ashantee Medal with clasp Coomassie.
Subsequently Lucas would serve with Flora from 27th February to 7th May 1874, Encounter from 8tb May 1874 to 10th June 1875 being promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class on 1st June 1875. He would then serve aboard Flora from 11th June 1875 until 31st July 1875 before rejoining Encounter with who he saw service during the River Congo Punitive Expedition during August and September 1875 for which no medal was issued. He would return to Flora from 2nd May 1876 to 3rd June 1876, then Doris from 4th June to 17th August 1876, Royal Adelaide from 18th August to 30th September 1876 and finally back to Barracks from 1st October 1876 to 11th November 1876 when he was shore pensioned.
