Orders, Decorations and Medals

Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (Bt. Major A. A. Godwin, 103rd Foot. 1873-4) nearly extremely fine and a rare award to a Special Service Officer £600-800

One of only two Ashantee medals to the 103rd Foot (later 2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers). One of Wolseley’s thirty-five Special Service Officers. Exceptionally clever and literate, they became known as the “Wolseley Ring”.

Algernon Arbuthnot Godwin was appointed Ensign, 20 November 1860; Lieutenant, 30 July 1862; Captain, 14 August 1872; Major, 1 April 1874; Lieutenant-Colonel, 8 July 1881.

‘Major Godwin accompanied Sir Garnet Wolseley to the Gold Coast in September 1873 on special service, and served in the first phase of the Ashantee War. He was appointed Special Commissioner to the King of Annamaboe, raised the Annamaboe Contingent and commanded it at the action of 27th October, near Dunquah, where he was severely wounded (Mentioned in Despatches, Brevet of Major, Medal).’

Wolseley later described the aftermath of this action: ‘Five officers were wounded, one of whom, Captain Godwin, of the Royal Dublins, was hit in the groin. A very good officer, always to the fore, he was a severe loss at the moment. I saw him the next day, when he declared that his wound was nothing, and that he was certain to be well in a few days. He would walk about to make others believe he was all right. Yet my doctor told me I need not count upon his assistance again in the campaign. It is of such stuff that heroes are made.’