Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (Major A. Bravo, 2nd W.I. Regt. 1873-4), silver buckle on ribbon, name scratched, good very fine £350-400

Alexander Bravo entered the Army as an Ensign by purchase in July 1849 and attained the rank of Captain by purchase in 1854. He served with the 1st West India Regiment in the Second Ashantee War 1863-64; being part of the contingent that sailed to the Cape Coast Castle, arriving in April 1864. In preparation for an expedition against Coomassie, two companies of the 1st W.I.R (including ‘B’ under Captain Bravo) marched 74 miles through heavy jungle and in torrential rain to the Prah River. The force reached the river at the Prahsu Ford, and here, in primeval forest and in pestilential surroundings and without proper food or shelter they set up camp and remained for nearly three months. By the end of the first month, out of the seven officers and 214 men who had left Cape Coast Castle, four officers and 102 men were sick. There was little proper medical care and the sick had to lie on damp ground, which, with the torrential rain, was rapidly turning into a swamp. Food was very poor and cooking difficult in the unending downpour. With no communication with the outside world and lack of activity, moral began to suffer. Had the enemy appeared, the small and weakened force would have been hard pressed to put up much of a fight. On 30 May 1864 Captain Hopewell Smith took his company back to the coast, leaving Captain Bravo with his - about 100 men at the Prahsu Ford. By 18 June over half were sick. Finally the Imperial Government ordered the local authorities to cease operations against the Ashantees and news of this reach Captain Bravo’s force on 26 June. Several days were spent destroying stores, guns and ammunition that had been stockpiled for future operations. Finally on 12 July 1864 Bravo led his men back to the coast where the survivors embarked for the West Indies.

In his farewell address, the Governor, Richard Pine stated, ‘Major Anton, I have served with, and marked with admiration his display of fortitude, moral courage and disinterested kindness during the fearful epidemic of 1859 in the Gambia. Captain Bravo, as second in command in the Gambia, was my esteemed friend, and enjoyed the respect of all who knew him.’ (Referring to the severe outbreak of fever at Bathurst in September 1859 during which a number of men of the W.I.R. lost their lives).

Following his service in the Ashantee War of 1863-64, Bravo gained the brevet of Major in December 1868, being promoted Major in August 1871. In the Ashantee War of 1873-74, Major Bravo was employed at the Cape Coast Castle. Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in the 2nd W.I.R. on 12 August 1874, he retired by the sale of his commission the same year.