An outstanding Africa service campaign group of four awarded to Captain A. M. Gardiner, Royal Navy, mentioned in despatches in three separate campaigns and one of only ten officers to receive a later clasp to the Ashantee medal already in his possession

Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Witu 1890 (Lt. A. M. Gardiner. R.N. H.M.S. Himalaya. 73-74.); South Africa 1877-79, no clasp (”Shah” Lieut. A. Gardiner. R.N. H.M.S.); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (Lieut: A. M. Gardiner. RN. H.M.S. “Agincourt”); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, mounted for display, very light contact marks, otherwise extremely fine (4) £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Only 10 known Ashantee War medals to officers entitled to later East & West Africa Medal Clasps,

Alexander Milne Gardiner was born on the 14 November 1848. He entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet aboard the Training Ship Britannia on 11 March 1862. On passing out of Britannia he was awarded a 1st Class Certificate and gained 12 months sea time. On promotion to Midshipman on 20 June 1863, he was appointed to Phoebe and loaned for short periods of training to the following ships: Victory, August 1863; Orontes, Trident, Queen, and Marlborough, September 1863, and Trident, October 1863. He returned to Phoebe in October 1863 and remained in this vessel for nearly three years. He served next aboard Lord Clyde, June 1866 and during his service in this vessel he served short periods of instruction aboard Royal Adelaide, July 1866, and Victory, August 1866, returning to the Lord Clyde in June 1867. Whilst in the latter vessel he was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 18 December 1867, having obtained a 1st Class Certificate in Seamanship and 3rd Class Certificates in Gunnery and Navigation.

He was next appointed to Northumberland in August 1868, and Narcissus, May 1870; in the latter ship he was promoted to Lieutenant on 7 February 1872. He then joined Cambridge in May 1873 for a Short Gunnery Course and in June 1873 he was then lent to Indus for the visit of the Shah of Persia.

In September 1873 he joined the troopship Himalaya and in this vessel he took part in the Ashantee War 1873-74, receiving the medal without clasp. Next appointed to the Liffey in April 1878 and then Shah in November 1878; in the latter vessel he saw service in the Zulu War and was awarded the medal without clasp.

On returning to England in November 1879 he was appointed to the Duke of Wellington for service as Transport Officer afloat aboard the S.S. Ontario. He next served in Agincourt, August 1880, and was present in this vessel in Egyptian waters during 1882 and received the Egyptian War medal without clasp. He was highly Commended by Rear Admiral A. Wilson 'For the manner in which he commanded Agincourt for two months when the Commanding Officer was away sick, he had entire charge of the ship during a short evolutionary cruise'.

On leaving Agincourt he took command of the gunboat Cygnet in May 1884 and saw service at Suakin in the Red Sea. He was specially promoted to Commander on 17 August 1885, and mentioned in Commodore R. H. Molyneux's Despatch published in the London Gazette of 23 June 1885. 'The Cygnet was moored during the busiest time at the entrance of the harbour to enforce obedience to the port regulations framed for the occasion to prevent confusion or accident, a duty which was performed by Lieutenant Alexander M. Gardiner, commanding that ship with much tact and judgement'. His services were recognised by the award of the clasp 'Suakin 1885' which he added to his previously earned no clasp, dated medal.

On his return to England in October 1885 he joined Duke of Wellington, followed by Cyclops in July 1889, and was then appointed to the command of Kingfisher. Whilst in the latter vessel attached to the East Indies Squadron, he was landed in October 1890 as part of the Naval Brigade sent to punish the Sultan of Witu who had earlier murdered a party of Europeans. He was mentioned in Vice Admiral Fremantle's Despatch, London Gazette 6 January 1891: 'In Command of an Infantry Brigade, he showed himself able and efficient'. Being already in possession of the Ashantee Medal he received only the clasp 'Witu 1890', one of only ten officers to receive additional clasps to the Ashantee Medal.

His next appointment was to the command of the gunboat Mistletoe, January 1892, and to the Raven in July 1894. On 8 January 1896, he retired at his own request with the rank of Captain having served for 34 years. He died 21 June 1927, aged 78, his Obituary appearing in The Times, 25 June 1927.

Sold with copied record of service and other research.