ASHANTEE MEDAL

ASHANTEE 1873 TO A CAPTAIN OF THE 14TH HUSSARS WHO SERVED AS A SPECIAL SERVICE OFFICER IN WOOD’S NATIVE REGIMENT DURING THE CAMPAIGN, RECEIVING THE BREVET OF MAJOR FOR HIS SERVICE. HE WOULD LATER SERVE AS A SPECIAL SERVICE OFFICER DURING THE ZULU WAR OF 1879 AND SERVICE WITH HIS REGIMENT DURING THE 1ST BOER WAR OF 1881

ASHANTEE 1873, CLASP COOMASSIE ‘CAPT & BT MAJOR F.S. RUSSELL 14TH HUSSARS 1873-4’

Army List entry: “Colonel F. S. Russell served in the Ashanti war from the 17th December 1875 ; was attached to Wood's regiment , and commanded the post of Accrofooma on the lines of communications (Brevet of Major, medal with clasp). Served in the latter stage of the Zulu War of 1879 as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, 2nd Division, and was present at the engagement at Ulundi (medal with clasp). Also served in the Boer war of 1881.”

Major-General Francis Shirley Russell, C.M.G. was born on the 13th December 1840 and was educated at Radley and Balliol College, Oxford. Commissioned cornet in the 18th Hussars on 14 February 1862 and transferred to the 14th Hussars on February 1863. Advanced to Lieutenant, 23 August 1864 and Captain, 13 June 1868, he served in the Ashantee war from the 17 December 1873 as a Special Service Officer and was attached to Wood's Regiment. Later commanding the post of Accrofooma, for his services during the campaign, he received the brevet rank of Major on 1 April 1874.

In 1879 he again served as a Special Service officer during the latter stages of the Zulu War, here serving as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, 2nd Division, and was present at the engagement at Ulundi on the 4 July 1879. He was also present with the 14th (Kings) Hussars during the 1st Boer war of 1881. He was confirmed Major, 14th Hussars on 15th June 1881 and Lieutenant Colonel 1 July 1881, transferring to the Royal Dragoons with Lieutenant Colonel C.F. Morton. Promoted Colonel, 1 July 1885, he commanded the Royal Dragoons from 1885 to 1887.

In February 1892, Colonel Russell was appointed to command the Aberdeen Volunteer Brigade. Promoted Major General, 20 January 1897, he retired in 1898, becoming Colonel of the Royal Dragoons on the 9 June 1900.

During his service, Major General Russell held the following staff appointments:-

A.D.C. to General Officer Commanding the Forces in Ireland 1st March 1869 to 30th June 1870.
Special services, Ashanti Expedition, 4th December 1873 to 28th March 1874.
Professor of Military Administration, Tactics and Law. Instructor in tactics, Royal military College, 18th September 1875 to 27th December 1876.
Special services, South Africa, 16th May 1879 to the 20th October 1879.
Military attache, Berlin, 1887-90. Whilst there he was attached to the Staff of the German Emperor and received several marks of His Imperial Majesty's favour including a fine bronze statue of the Emperor and likewise a portrait with the Imperial Autograph. He also had the occasion to visit the Court of the King of Wurtemburg, and received from his Majesty an interesting Souvenir embellished with the royal monogram in precious stones. The Kaiser even bestowed on him the Prussian Order of the Crown.

Condition, suspension claw reaffixed, EK’s and contact wear, this unsurprising for a long service cavalry Officer. His Zulu War campaign medal is known to be extent and is in similar worn condition.

A scarce medal to a Special Service officer.