Lot Archive

Lot

№ 31

.

12 June 1991

Hammer Price:
£340

ASHANTEE 1873-4, no clasp (Lt. E. G. Bourke, R.N., H.M.S. Druid, 73-74), good very fine

Rear Admiral Edmund George Bourke was Senior Lieutenant of Druidon the West Coast of Africa, 1872-74. He commanded the boats of the squadron at the hostile portion of the town of Elmina, 13th June, 1873. He was also second in command, under Captain Fremantle, C.B., at the first and decisive action with the Ashantees, which occurred later the same day (mentioned in despatches). He was appointed by Sir Garnet Wolseley to be Civil Commandant at Accra in November, 1873, and served as such until February, 1874 (Ashantee Medal); whilst Captain of the Hyacinth he hoisted the British Flag over the Cook Islands, South Pacific, in November, 1888. Promoted Commander, 1874; Captain, 1883; Rear Admiral, 1898; retired list from March, 1893, until his death, 13 October, 1924.