Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (2026, Pte. J. Mahon, 2nd Bn. Rifle Bde. 1873-4) nearly extremely fine and a scarce casualty £400-500

John Mahon was born at Knockmore, Ireland, and enlisted into the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, at Belfast on 14 December 1870, aged 19, a clerk by trade. He was posted to the Gold Coast, West Africa, in late 1873 and arrived at Cape Coast Castle on 10 December. The battalion was heavily involved in the fighting at Amoaful and Ordahsu, and provided the advance guard of Wolseley’s approach to Coomassie. Wolseley’s despatch from Coomassie, dated 5 February 1874, records John Mahon as having received a very severe gunshot wound to his head at Ordahsu on 4 February, from which wounds he died at Cape Coast Castle on 20 February 1874.

Sold with copied medal roll and muster extracts, together with London Gazette details.