Ashantee Medal 1873-74, 1 Clasp: Coomassie awarded to Petty Officer 1st Class E. Spinks, Royal Navy who saw service in West Africa during the Ashantee War of 1873-74 where he would become 1 of 50 men of HMS Druid to receive the clasp Coomassie.
Ashantee Medal 1873-74, 1 Clasp: Coomassie; (E. SPINKS. PY OFFR. 1 CL. H.M.S. DRUID 73-74)
Condition: edge-bruise at 3 o’clock, better than Very Fine
Edward Spinks was born in Ipswich, Suffolk on 3rd August 1845 and first entered the Royal navy on 15th May 1860 serving as a Boy 2nd Class initially serving with Implacable until 13th December 1861, when he transferred to Emerald and was promoted Boy 1st Class. He would be promoted to Ordinary Seaman on 27th October 1863 and leave the ship on 8th November 1863 when he was attached to Duncan. He would be promoted Able Seaman on 1st January 1867 and would leave the ship for Terror on 19th March 1867.
Leaving Terro on 3rd June 1868 he would then serve with Gannet from 3th June to 23rd September 1868, Pembroke from 24th September 1868 to 11th June 1869, Penelope from 12th June to 10th July 1869, Firm from 11th July 1869 until 10th March 1871 being promoted Leadng Seaman on 2nd November 1869 and appointed Quarter Master on 19th June 1870. He would leave for Pembroke on 11th March 1871, serving there until 15th February 1872, when he would transfer to Druid, aboard which he would be appointed Captain of the Main Top and who would be present in West Africa during the Ashantee War of 1873-74 being 1 of 50 men to be awarded the Ashantee Medal with clasp Coomassie.
He would leave Druid for the Marine Barracks on 16th May 1874 serving there until 8th June 1875, when he travelled to Fisgard where he would remain until 20th April 1878 then being posted to Duncan as a Chief Petty Officer from 21st April 1878 to 1st August 1879, Marine Barracks from 2nd August 1879 until 26th September 1879, Northampton from 27th September 1879 to 10th December 1882 and finally Duncan from where he was shore pensioned on 9th August 1883.
