Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part II)

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Witu August 1893 (R. F. Ainscough, Ord. Smn., H.M.S. Swallow) edge nicks, good very fine and scarce £200-250

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals for Services at Sea from the Collection of the Late Oliver Stirling Lee.

View
Collection

Richard Frederick Ainscough was born in Liverpool in March 1875 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in July 1891. Subsequently employed as an Ordinary Seaman in the Naval Brigade drawn from H.M.S. Swallow, and other ships, during the Witu August 1893 operations, he became one of 35 men from his ship to earn the appropriate Medal and clasp. He did not, however, witness further active service until the Great War - having been pensioned ashore as a Petty Officer 1st Class in March 1905, he was recalled from the Royal Fleet Reserve on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 - when he joined the newly commissioned battleship Victorious. Then in early 1915 he removed to the Sheerness depot ship Wildfire, and remained similarly employed until the end of the War, being mentioned in despatches (AWO 938/18 refers). Ainscough was once more pensioned ashore in February 1919 .