The East & West Africa medal awarded to Boy 1st Class James Luscombe, Royal Navy, with the very rare ‘1892’ clasp in a unique 3-clasp combination

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 3 clasps, 1892, Witu August 1893, Benin 1897 (J. Luscombe, Boy 1st Cl., H.M.S. Sparrow.) good very fine £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The John Goddard Collection of Important Naval Medals and Nelson Letters.

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Provenance: Captain K. J. Douglas-Morris Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, February 1997.

The Medal Roll shows the recipients of the clasps ‘1891-2’ and ‘1892’ in one list, but distinguishes those entitled to the clasp for ‘1892’ by the notation of ‘Toniataba only’ alongside their names. Only 8 European and 3 Native Ratings, including Boy 1st Class Luscombe, are so noted, making this the rarest clasp of the series for naval service. This is a unique clasp combination.

James Luscombe was born in South Brent, Devon, on 7 April 1874 and was an errand boy prior to joining the Royal Navy. He entered the service on 11 May 1889 as a Boy 2nd Class aboard the Boy Training Ship H.M.S. Impregnable. In this rank he next joined Lion (May 1889) and was advanced to Boy 1st Class on 14 August 1890. He served next aboard Penelope (May 1891), transferred to Sparrow (July 1891) and advanced to Ordinary Seaman 7 April 1892 and to Able Seaman 1 May 1893. He served ashore with the Naval Brigade sent against Toniatabu 12 March-30 April 1892. In August 1893 he was again landed from Sparrow as a member of the Naval Brigade sent to punish Sultan Fumo Omari and became entitled to the clasp ‘Witu August 1893’.

He subsequently served aboard Vivid I (January 1894), Cambridge (February 1894), Vivid I (January 1895), Rupert (January 1895), Thunderer (May 1895), Vivid I (March 1896) and Magpie (April 1896). In the latter vessel he was again landed for service on shore as part of the Expedition sent against Chief Overami which culminated in the destruction of Benin City, his services being recognised by the award of the clasp ‘Benin 1897’. He next joined Penelope (April 1897), and Magpie (May 1897), was advanced to Leading Seaman on 1 February 1898 and joined Monarch (April 1898). From the latter ship he was sent ashore and was discharged dead from nephritis at Simonstown Naval Hospital on 28 April 1898.