Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (Capt: E. M. Forbes, 2nd W.I. Regt. 1873-4.) edge bruising, otherwise very fine £500-£600

Edward M’Mahon Forbes was originally commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in November 1857 and saw action in West Africa in the operations against the King of Quiah between November 1861 and February 1862, and was present at the defeat of Pa Caney and his men at Kabal, where he was wounded.

A Captain in the 2nd West India Regiment by the outbreak of the Ashantee War in 1873, he was present at several early operations, Essaman, Akimfoo and Ampenee among them, and was slightly wounded at the former place. Forbes was advanced to Major in August 1874 and was placed on half-pay in November of the same year, possibly as a result of the wound he received at Essaman.

Sold with an original carte de visite photograph of the recipient and a copy of Henry Brackenbury’s Narrative of the Ashantee War, Volume 1 (of two), this with an interesting contemporary copy (?) of the letter sent to Major-General Wolsely by Amanquatia, Commander in Chief of the Ashantee Army, from his camp at Mampong, dated 20 October 1873.