Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Captain E. H. Hobart, King’s Royal Rifle Corps

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1897-98 (Lt. & A/Insptr. E. H. Hobart. 9/K.R.R.); Ashanti 1900, no clasp, high relief bust (Captain E. H. Hobart. 9th K.R.R.C.) some edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise very fine and rare (2)
£2000-2500

Captain E. H. Hobart served in West Africa 1897-98, Northern Territories Gold Coast (Medal and Clasp). Again in West Africa 1900 during the operations in Ashanti (Medal). Hobart was a militia officer in the 9th Battalion, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps, whose Captaincy dated from 6 January 1900. This is believed to be a unique combination of medals to the K.R.R.C.

Hobart is mentioned several times in A History of the Gold Coast and Ashanti by W. Walton Claridge, from which the following extract, concerning the escape of the Governor’s Column, is taken:

‘At the same time [April 1900], there were other small detachments of Hausas at Asafu with Captain Hobart, the Acting District Commissioner of Sefwi, and at Sikasiko with Captain Soden, the Travelling Commissioner in British Jaman. Captain Hobart was at Pamu when he first heard of the rising, and at once ordered Pong Yow, the King of Wam, to summon all his Chiefs to a meeting, at which he told them what had taken place at Kumasi, warned them not to join, or in any way to aid the Ashantis, and accepted their oaths of fealty to the Government. The country was very unsettled however, and it was doubtful in whom it would be safe to place much faith. The King of Ahafu sent in messengers to say that his people had joined the Ashantis and that he was coming in to Wam for protection; but the next news received was that his people had taken him with them by force to Kumasi. The King of Berikum also sent an urgent message asking for help and support, as the Ashantis were threatening to burn his town and put his people to death if they did not join them. This was more than Captain Hobart could give; but he sent asking Captain Soden to visit Berikum, and he, by continually patrolling the district, managed to prevent any further defections, though the Odumasis and Wankis had already risen, the Chief of the former place, which was a great rubber centre, had put seventy-six Krepi rubber collectors and brokers to death with frightful tortures, and extorted large sums of money from others by threatening them with a similar fate. Captain Hobart stayed in Pamu until the end of the first week in June, by which time the district was fairly settled and he thought it safe to visit Berikum, where he stayed until the 21st. He then received news of the death of Atta Kwesi the King of Sefwi, and, knowing that this would be likely to unsettle the district, hurried back to arrange for the election of his successor. He reached the capital, Wiosu, on the 22nd of August, and Kwamin Tando, the Chief of Asafu, was then enstalled King of Sefwi. He was an extremely loyal, able, sensible, and very influential man, and it was fortunate that he had succeeded at this time. He soon afterwards informed Captain Hobart that the Ashantis were planning an attack on Asafu, and asked to be supplied with guns and powder, so that he might arm his people and assist in its defence. Captain Hobart, however, had no arms available, and the attack, fortunately, was not made; but the people all left the town, and small parties of the enemy occupied the roads and kept watch on his movements.’