East and West Africa Medal 1887-1900, 1 Clasp: Witu 1890 awarded to Able Seaman E.A. Baldwin, Royal Navy who was 1 of 90 men of H.M.S. Cossack to receive the clasp Witu 1890 for his participation in the expedition under Vice Admiral Sir Edmund Freemantle against Sultan Fumo Bakari of Witu who had countenanced the murder of several Germans. This area of present day Kenya, formerly under the control of the German East Africa Company, was transferred to the British under the Anglo-German agreement of 1890. Once the main force reached Witu, the Sultan’s troops were dispersed.
East and West Africa Medal 1887-1900, 1 Clasp: Witu 1890; (E.A. BALDWIN, A.B. H.M.S. COSSACK.)
Condition: edge-bruising, Good Very Fine
Ernest A. Baldwin was born in Croydon, Surrey in 1869 and saw service as a Bedstead Warehouseman and first served with the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard Impregnable from 13th August 1882. He would transfer to Ganges on 27th August 1882 and would be advanced to Boy 1st Class on 22nd August 1883. He would leave Ganges for Lion on 5th December 1883, and would remain aboard until transferring to Sultan on 28th January 1884, being promoted Ordinary Seaman on 8th August 1885, and then leaving to Active on 1st November 1886. Whilst aboard Active he would be advanced Able Seaman on 15th April 1887, before subsequently leaving for Minotaur on 18th June 1887.
Subsequently he would serve aboard Minotaur from 18th June 1887 until 11th November 1887, Northumberland from 2nd December 1887 until 28th December 188, Duke of Wellington from 29th December 1888 until 6th June 1889, Agamemnon from 7th June 1889 to 4th September 1889, Boadicea from 5th September 1889 until 28th January 1890, Ranger from 28th March to 1st April 1890, Boadicea from 2nd April to 9th June 1890 when he would transfer to Cossack where he served from 10th June 1890 until 21st March 1892 being 1 of 90 men of the ship to participate in the expedition under Vice Admiral Sir Edmund Freemantle against Sultan Fumo Bakari of Witu who had countenanced the murder of several Germans. This area of present day Kenya, formerly under the control of the German East Africa Company, was transferred to the British under the Anglo-German agreement of 1890. Once the main force reached Witu, the Sultan’s troops were dispersed.
He would return to Victory I from 22nd March until 4th July 1892, then serve aboard Excellent from 5th July 1892 to 21st October 1892, Victory I from 1st to 9th November 1892, Vernon from 10th November 1892 to 13th February 1894, Centurion from 14th February 1894 to 20th April 1895, Severn from 21st April to 10th June 1895 and finally Victory I from 11th June 1895 to 8th August 1895 when he was shore pensioned.
