Awarded to Robert Garland (1855-1905), sailmaker, RN. 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: 'R.GARLAND, H.M.S.AMETHYST 73-74'.

Robert Garland was born in Plymouth, his father also called Robert, made wooden lasts for shoe making and his mother Julia worked as a needlewoman following the death of her husband. Before he joined the Royal Navy as a boy seaman in January 1873, Robert junior was already working as a sailmaker while his brother Anthony served as a ordinary seaman. He served in HMS ‘Amethyst’ during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War 1873-4 as an ordinary seaman. He took up his old trade in the Navy, being appointed from June 1874 as sailmaker’s crew, progressing to sailmaker’s mate and then sailmaker. He spent much of his service in base ships, guard ships or training ships in Portsmouth or more usually Plymouth where he appears in the 1871, 1881 and 1901 census. In HMS ‘Conquest’ from 1889 to 1892, he took part in the campaign in East Africa against the Sultan of Witu. He died in Plymouth in 1905, the year after his service record ends.Robert Garland was born in Plymouth, his father also called Robert, made wooden lasts for shoe making and his mother Julia worked as a needlewoman following the death of her husband. Before he joined the Royal Navy as a boy seaman in January 1873, Robert junior was already working as a sailmaker while his brother Anthony served as a ordinary seaman. He served in HMS ‘Amethyst’ during the Ashantee War 1873-4 as an ordinary seaman. He took up his old trade in the Navy, being appointed from June 1874 as sailmaker’s crew, progressing to sailmaker’s mate and then sailmaker. He spent much of his service in base ships, guard ships or training ships in Portsmouth or more usually Plymouth where he appears in the 1871, 1881 and 1901 census. In HMS ‘Conquest’ from 1889 to 1892, he took part in the campaign in East Africa against the Sultan of Witu. He died in Plymouth in 1905, the year after his service record ends.