Beschreibung:

The important Ashantee War medal awarded to Lieutenant G. S. Smith Royal Navy, who landed from Druid to serve with the Naval Brigade at Coomassie, and was afterwards murdered by natives at Ukerewe, on Lake Victoria Nyanzia, in 1877, when leading the first contingent of missionaries sent by the Church Missionary Society to Uganda Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (Lt. G. S. Smith R.N., H.M.S, Druid, 73-74) lightly polished, otherwise good very fine £1,200-£1,500 The important Ashantee War medal awarded to Lieutenant G. S. Smith Royal Navy, who landed from Druid to serve with the Naval Brigade at Coomassie, and was afterwards murdered by natives at Ukerewe, on Lake Victoria Nyanzia, in 1877, when leading the first contingent of missionaries sent by the Church Missionary Society to Uganda Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (Lt. G. S. Smith R.N., H.M.S, Druid, 73-74) lightly polished, otherwise good very fine £1,200-£1,500 George Shergold Smith was the son of Captain Shergold Smith, R.N., and joined the Navy as Sub-Lieutenant on 9 May 1866. Promoted to Lieutenant in June 1869, he joined Flora in April 1870, and removed to Fly in May 1870. He was awarded the Royal Humane Society bronze medal in March 1871, together with Stoker D. Doody, also of Fly, for saving life at sea off Jellah Coffee, Africa, on 10 September 1870. Paid off from Fly in June 1873, he attended Royal Naval College in September 1873, before his appointment to Active, additional, for dispersal to Druid, which ship he joined on 12 November 1873. He landed with the Naval Brigade in the Ashantee campaign (Medal with Clasp). Signed ‘sick’ on 17 July 1874, he was granted a special pension of £50 on account of impaired eyesight, owing to exposure on service in the campaign, and left the service in March 1876. ‘The story of little Adjai’s rescue from the slave ship in 1822 is well known to the friends of Missions. On board the vessel which was the means of saving the future ‘black Bishop’ of the Niger was a young midshipman, afterwards Captain Shergold Smith, R.N. His son, Lieutenant George Shergold Smith, served in the Ashanti expedition. Here he was employed in the difficult work of securing native porters to accompany the army. The carrying out of this task afforded him some experience of, and insight into, the African character. On a journey taken on this business he caught a fever, which so injured his eyesight that he was recommended to retire on a pension. Returning home, he resolved to devote himself to the ministry of the Gospel, and entered St John’s Hall, Highbury, as a student. Finding his eyesight improve, his thoughts turned again to the country where he had seen the ‘gross darkness’ covering the people. ‘I love the African,’ he said, ‘and I want to preach Christ to him.’ He had already been in communication with the Church Missionary Society when the call came for labourers for the Victoria Nyanza Mission. He at once volunteered for the work. ‘Send me out,’ he said, in any capacity. I am willing to take the lowest place.’ But the committee, perceiving the worth of his character and his experience, at once appointed him leader of the expedition.’ (The Story of Uganda and the Victoria Nyanza Mission, by Sarah Geraldina Stock refers). Charles D. Michael takes up the story in James Hannington of East Africa - Bishop Martyred for Africa: ‘In spite of the many and grave dangers to be encountered, volunteers for this pioneer work were quickly forthcoming, and a party of eight persons formed the first missionary expedition to Uganda. The members of the party were George Shergold Smith, an ex-Lieutenant of the Royal Navy, who was studying for the ministry of the Church of England; Alexander Mackay, a young Scotch engineer; the Rev. C. T. Wilson a Manchester curate; Mr T. O’Neill, an architect; Dr John Smith a qualified medical man from Edinburgh; G. J. Clark an engineer; W. M. Robertson, an artisan; and James Robertson a builder from Newcastle. Arrange