Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Ashantee 1873-74, no clasp (Bt. Major A. A. Godwin, 103rd Foot. 1873-4) nearly extremely fine and a rare award to one of Wolseley’s Special Service Officers £1,000-£1,400

Dix Noonan Webb, September 2006.

One of only two Ashantee 1873-74 Medals awarded to the 103rd Regiment of Foot (later 2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers).

Algernon Arbuthnot Godwin was commissioned Ensign in the 103rd Regiment of Foot on 20 November 1860, and was promoted Lieutenant on 30 July 1862, and Captain on 14 August 1872. As a Brevet Major he accompanied Sir Garnet Wolseley to the Gold Coast in September 1873 on special service, as one of Wolseley’s thirty-five Special Service Officers - exceptionally clever and literate, they became known as the ‘Wolseley Ring’. Serving 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 near Dunquah on 27 October 1873, where he was severely wounded. 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.’

Mentioned in Despatches and rewarded with the Brevet of Major, Godwin was confirmed in the rank of Major on 1 April 1874, and was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on 8 July 1881.

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