The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 1)

Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (Lt. E. G. Bourke, R.N. H.M.S. Druid. 73-74) very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Edmund G. Bourke was born on 6 December 1843. First entered the service as a Naval Cadet aboard H.M.S. ILLUSTRIOUS on 6 March 1858, and subsequently served aboard H.M.S. ROYAL ALBERT (1858-60) as a Midshipman from 25 January 1860. Was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 7 August 1863 whilst serving aboard H.M.S. ST GEORGE, and gained the rank of Lieutenant R.N. whilst serving for a few months aboard the Royal Yacht VICTORIA & ALBERT on 31 August 1864, and almost immediately was appointed to join H.M.S. RATTLESNAKE in September 1864. Served in H.M. Ships TORCH (1865-68) and PHILOMEL (1868-71), and joined DRUID on 15 February 1872.

During the Ashantee War he was at Elmina in command of DRUID's boats and, on landing, in command of one of five companies within the Naval Brigade. For the second engagement he took Captain Fremantle, Colonel Festing and two boat's crews into action. He then became Second in Command of the Naval Brigade under Captain Fremantle. Specially mentioned in despatches by Captain Fremantle for “ conduct, zeal, alacrity and readiness of resource which cannot be too highly praised.”

His promotion to Commander for services during the Ashantee Campaign was published in the London Gazette dated 31 March 1874. He was "chequed" (transferred) from H.M.S. DRUID on 20 November 1873 for duty at Accra as Civil Commandant until February 1874 by orders of General Sir Garnet Wolseley. He subsequently served a full commission aboard H.M.S. GANNET (1879-83). Promoted to Captain R.N. on 29 June 1883 and served two further commissions, firstly in command of HYACINTH (1887-88), hoisting the British Flag over the Cook Islands, South Pacific, in November 1888, and then as Captain of RINGAROOMA (1891-93). He retired at his own request on 18 March 1893, and was promoted to Retired Rear Admiral on 31 March 1898. He died on 13 October 1924.