Four: Sapper F. J. Lewis, Telegraph Battalion, Royal Engineers

Ashanti Star 1896 (26206 Sapper F. J. Lewis R.E.); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1897-98 (26206 Sapper F. J. Lewis. R.E.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Orange Free State, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, Cape Colony (26206 Corpl. F. J. Lewis R.E.) the last clasp a contemporary tailor’s copy with unofficial rivets; King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (26206 Sapr. F. J. Lewis. R.E.) light contact marks, otherwise good very fine and rare (4) £800-£1,200

Sapper F. J. Lewis was drawn from the 2nd Telegraph Battalion, London, for service with the Ashanti Expeditionary Force under Captain R. S. Curtis, R.E., Director of Telegraphs, from 19 December 1895 to 17 January 1896. Baden Powell described the men as ‘half-stripped and laying the line at a phenomenal rate of two and a half miles an hour. Up to Mansu the lines were on poles. Afterwards on the ground.’ The Ashanti Star was awarded to two officers and 32 men of the Telegraph Battalion. Lewis was also in West Africa during 1897-98 and was ‘employed on the construction of telegraph lines from Lagos to Saki; Isayhin to Jebba; Jebba along the river Niger towards Lokoja from 29 December 1897 to January 1899, and on their working and maintenance.’ His East and West Africa medal was issued to him on 10 October 1902 in South Africa where he had been serving in the Boar War, one of 12 clasps for ‘1897-98’ issued to the men of the Telegraph Battalion. Sold with copies of all relevant medal rolls.