Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (J. Gank, A.B., H.M.S. Active, 73-74) initial and surname officially corrected, nearly extremely fine £60-80

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Series of Medals for the Ashantee Campaign (1873-74).

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Joseph Gank was born in Dublin in August 1848 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in May 1864. Rated as an Able Seaman by the time he joined H.M.S. Active in October 1873, he went on to participate in the Ashantee War and served ashore with the naval brigade in the Coomassie operations. Advanced to Leading Seaman in February 1877, while still serving in the Active, Gank was finally pensioned ashore as a Petty Officer 1st Class in July 1891. He died at Yarmouth Hospital in September 1893.