The Upfill-Brown Collection

The unique medal awarded to Lieutenant F. B. Henderson, Royal Navy, for the epic defence of Dawkita in 1897

EAST AND WEST AFRICA 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Dawkita 1897 (Lieut. F. B. Henderson, R. N.), officially impressed naming in the correct style for the navy, very fine

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The AA Upfill-Brown Collection.

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Francis Barkley Henderson was educated in H. M. S. Britannia at Dartmouth where he won the Goodenough medal for gunnery. He entered the Royal Navy in1872, becoming Midshipman in 1874; sub-Lieutenant in 1878, and Lieutenant in 1882. In 1895 and 1896 he was Private Secretary and A. D. C. to Sir W. E. Maxwell, K.C.M.G., Governor of the Gold Coast Colony, and accompanied him in the Ashanti expedition of 1896. For the next six years he was a travelling commissioner in the Gold Coast Colony, during which time he commanded the small force during the defence of the town of Dawkita when it was attacked by the powerful Sofa slavers. For these services he was awarded the D.S.O. (London Gazette 8 March 1898) 'in recognition -of the services in the conduct of certain military operations against the Sofas in West Africa whilst holding the appointment of Travelling Commissioner, ' and the special clasp for Dawkita. Henderson was acting Chief Commissioner of Ashanti from 1902 to 1904 when he was invalided. He was created a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1902.

The Defence of Dawkita

The defence of Dawkita by Lieutenant Henderson, R.N., Rtd., is a little known incident that would seem to have been deserving of greater recognition, for in reality it must surely be one of the epic defences of the 19th century. In occupying the small town of Dawkita, Henderson was seemingly depriving the Sofas of the ability to forage for food by blocking their route. Henderson had only a very small force with him comprising an African Surveyor called Mr. George E. Ferguson, a native Police Officer and 41 constables from the Gold Coast Constabulary. On hearing that the Sofa tribesmen were on the march, Henderson made preparations to fortify three of the native compounds and await reinforcements. These, however, were not forthcoming and the small force found themselves besieged by an army of Sofas estimated to be not less than 7, 000 in number. The fighting lasted for four days and nights and amazingly, outnumbered by approximately 160 to 1, Henderson's force lost only two men killed and nine wounded. The losses amongst the Sofas were estimated at more than 400. At dusk on the fourth day Henderson decided to evacuate the town and retire to Wa, from where he was expecting reinforcements. After a march through the night they met up with Captain Cramer who had with him fifty men, two guns and some rockets. Over the next two weeks Henderson met with the Sofa Chiefs and with great diplomacy elicited their approval, and guarantee of safe conduct, for his force to proceed to the coast via Kumassi. Lieutenant Henderson was subsequently awarded the D.S.O. and one man the D.C.M. Army Order 51 of April 1898 approved the medal for operations on the West Coast of Africa with a clasp 'Dawkita 1897' being granted to Lieut. F. B. Henderson, late Royal Navy, and to the force employed under him in the defence of the town of Dawkita in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Henderson rejoined the Navy in October, 1914, and was attached to the Naval Intelligence Department at the Admiralty. He was lent by them to M. I. 5 at the War Office where he served until demobbed in July, 1919. He was promoted for services to Commander in November 1918 and died in 1934. Note: This officially impressed medal was sold in the Lovell Collection by Messrs. Sotheby in 1977 (lot 209 £2400). A group containing a renamed, engraved East and West Africa with a copy clasp Dawkita 1897, together with C.M.G., D.S.O., Ashanti Star and British War Medal, has been on the market.