Ashantee War Medal 1873-74

Vice-Admiral Sir Noel Stephen Fox Digby (1839-1920). Obverse: Head of Queen Victoria in a diadem and veil (left) Legend: 'VICTORIA REGINA'. Reverse: A group of soldiers and Africans fighting in the bush for their fallen comrades. Suspended from a bar, and yellow ribbon with a broad black edge and two narrow black central stripes. Inscription on edge: 'COMR. N.S.F. DIGBY R.N. H.M.S.RATTLESNAKE 73-74'. Mounted on a bar with three others.

Noel Stephen Fox Digby entered the Navy as cadet in 1852. During the Crimea War, he was a midshipman in HMS ‘Britannia’, flagship of Admiral Sir James Deans Dundas in the Black Sea. He was present at the bombardment of Sebastopol in 1854. He then transferred to HMS ‘Hastings’ in 1855. She was deployed to the second front in the Baltic, taking part in the bombardment of Sveaborg. Later in his career, now a commander, he served in HMS ’Rattlesnake’ during the third Anglo-Ashanti War under Commodore John Edward Commerell. He was then flag-captain to Admirals Commerell, Lord Clanwilliam and Sir Anthony Hoskins. From 1889-1892 he ran the training ship ‘Britannia’ at Dartmouth and retired in 1893 with the rank of captain but was advanced to Vice-Admiral on the retired list.

Object Details

ID: MED2615
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: War medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Wyon, Leonard Charles; Poynter, Edward John
Events: Ashantee War, 1873-1874
Date made: 1874
People: Digby, Noel Stephen Fox
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm