Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (Surgn. Major J. Wiles, 1873-4) some contact marks, very fine £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Medical Services formed by Colonel D.G.B. Riddick.

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Julius Wiles joined the Army on 24 November 1854 and was appointed an Assistant Surgeon to the 89th Regiment on 12 January 1855. resigning his appointment in 1857, he was reappointed to the Staff in June 1858, and to the Rifle Brigade in September 1863. He was promoted to Surgeon in February 1871, Surgeon-Major in March 1873, Brigade Surgeon in October 1881 and retired with the honorary rank of Deputy Surgeon-General on 1 July 1883.

Wiles served in the Crimean War, being present at the siege and fall of Sebastopol, including the assaults on the Redan. During the Indian Mutiny, he was present with the force under Brigadier Turner in the Behar District from August 1858. In the China Campaign of 1860 he was present at the actions of Sinho and Taku and at the surrender of Pekin. During the Ashantee War, he embarked for the Gold Coast in 1873, in medical charge of the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade and served throughout the second phase of the conflict, being present at the actions at Amaoful and Ordahsu and the capture of Coomassie.

Surgeon-General Wiles met his death on 10 November 1906 as a result of an accident while bicycling in Campden House Road, London. Some horses attached to a van took fright at a motor and bolted, knocking him down. Conveyed to the West London Hospital, he later died of his injuries. Sold with copied service details.