Orders, Decorations and Medals

The C.B. group of three awarded to Inspector-General of Hospitals Henry Fegan, Royal Navy, Senior Medical Officer in charge of the Naval Brigade during the Ashantee War of 1873-74

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, 18 carat gold and enamels, hallmarked London 1886, complete with swivel-ring straight suspension and gold ribbon buckle; China 1857-60, no clasp, unnamed as issued; Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (H. Fegan. M.D. Staff Surgn. 2nd Cl. R.N. H.M.S. Active. 73-74) good very fine (3) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for the Ashantee War 1873-74.

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118 clasps issued to H.M.S. Active.

Henry Fegan was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the Royal Navy on 6 June 1856. He served in China, 1857-61, at the R.N. Hospital, Hong Kong, and was specially recommended for promotion by the Commander-in-Chief (Medal). In China in 1868, he was Surgeon in H.M.S. Rodney and in medical charge of the Naval Brigade at the occupation of Yang-Chow in November (Despatches).

As Staff Surgeon in H.M.S. Active during the Ashantee war of 1873-74, he was in medical charge of the Naval Brigade and was present at the action at Essaman on 14 October 1873, the action at Borborassie on 19 January 1874, and action at Amoaful on 31 January 1874. At this last action, “Dr Fegan had a close shave. He wore a tie fastened with a broad ring. Just after attending Colonel Wood, who came in with a slug in his chest, Dr Fegan advanced from the shade of a tree where the wounded lay, to chat with us. Suddenly he staggered, and at the same moment his ring went spinning down his waistcoat. A slug had struck it and glanced off. The ring save his life.”

Fegan was praised for his services at Becquah and at the “Dah” when he brought in a wounded marine under heavy fire (London Gazette 7 March 1874). He was also specially praised by Commodore Hewett, Captain Grubbe, Sir G. Wolseley and the Principal Medical Officer for devoted and fearless performance of his duties in the field, and for his excellent arrangements for the comfort and care of the wounded ashore, especially his unremitting care day and night, with conduct which has been beyond praise (London Gazette 23 March 1874). In recognition of his services during the war Fegan was awarded the C.B. and specially promoted to Fleet Surgeon.

During 1875 he was Senior Medical Officer of the expedition to the Congo (Despatches). He was later in Medical Charge of the Naval Hospital at Jamaica, 1880-84. The Commodore at Jamaica reported to the Admiralty Dr Fegan’s very praiseworthy services during the epidemic of Yellow Fever in 1882 when D.I.H. of Jamaica Hospital. “My Lords have expressed their great satisfaction at the display of zeal and devotion to duty which they manifested.” Fegan was promoted to Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets on 29 October 1886, and retired the following March.