Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (S. Banks, A.B. H.M.S. Rattlesnake 73-74) nearly extremely fine £140-£180

Not entitled to clasp for Coomassie. Medal sent to H.M.S. President on 18 September 1875.

Samuel Banks was born in the Parish of St Bride’s, London, on 10 May 1849, and joined the Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in Fisgard on 14 March 1864. He moved to Malacca in August 1864, was advanced to Boy 1st Class in January 1866, and to Ordinary Seaman in May 1867. He advanced to Able Seaman in July 1869 and moved to Penelope in September 1869, and to Rattlesnake in October 1870. Whilst he was in her, on 7 July 1872, he was sent to the Breakwater Gaol at Cape Town for 42 days’ imprisonment under the Naval Discipline Act, returning to the ship on 18 August, and remaining in her until 25 March 1874, during which period the ship was involved in the Ashantee campaign. After Rattlesnake he continued as an Able Seaman in several ships and Naval Barracks until advanced to Leading Seaman in August 1876 whilst in Favourite. He joined Lord Warden on 21 December 1876, but his record of service peters out on 1 January 1877, when he received a second Good Conduct Badge.