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Auction: 13003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 9

A Very Rare 'Ashanti 1900, V.C. Action' D.S.O. Group of Four to Surgeon-Major W. Fletcher, Royal Army Medical Corps, For His Gallantry During the Ambush of Lieutenant-Colonel Carter's Column at Dompuassi, 6.6.1900, Where He Was Wounded; He Was Also Mentioned in Despatches For Services During the Aro Expedition, 1901-02
a) Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, minor red enamel damage, with integral top-riband bar
b) East and West Africa 1887-1900, one clasp, 1899 (Surgn. Lieut. W. Fletcher. Niger. C.P. Force.)
c) Ashanti 1900, one clasp, Kumassi (Surg. Capt: W. Fletcher W.A.F.F.), with high relief bust
d) Africa General Service 1902-56, E.VII.R., one clasp, Aro 1901-1902 (Capt. W. Fletcher, M.B., D.S.O., R.A.M.C.), last with high relief bust, darkly toned, generally good very fine (4)

D.S.O. London Gazette 11.6.1901 William Fletcher, Surgeon-Capt., Militia Medical Staff Corps
'In recognition of services during the recent operations in Ashanti.'

Surgeon Major William Fletcher, D.S.O., born 1863; having been commissioned into the Niger C.P.F. he served in West Africa 1899, in the expedition in the Central Division of the Niger Coast Protectorate; took part in the operations in West Africa 1900, Ashanti Expedition, and served as the Medical Officer with the column under Lieutenant-Colonel Carter.

Carter 'reported that after he had left Fumsu on June 2nd he engaged the enemy at Sherimassi, losing four men killed, and on arrival at Kwisa found that D Company with its wounded had arrived there the following day.' (The Great Drama of Kumasi, W. Montagu Hall refers).

Carter's column had been ambushed several times between Fumsu and Kwisa, and he had lost four men killed and seven wounded at Sherimassi; the death of these four men gave an early indication as to the enemy's intentions of targetting the white officers - Carter, his second in command Major Wilkinson, and Dr. Fletcher had been walking together, followed by their three orderlies and the Regimental Sergeant-Major; the four natives were killed by a sudden volley from the bush, with the three officers fortunate to escape on this occasion.

On the 6th June, Carter set off with one 7-pdr, three Maxims and 380 men to join Captain Hall at Esumeja, 'leaving a small garrison at Kwisa, Lieutenant-Colonel Carter advanced to engage the Adansis whom he met at Dompuassi. Captain Roupell, who was leading the advance guard, was at once wounded, then Lieutenant-Colonel Carter, Lieutenant O'Malley several times while gallanty trying to keep his maxim gun going until he had to give up from loss of blood, and Lieutenant Edwards, R.A. The last named, in charge of the 7-pdr, had the whole of his gun detachment either killed or wounded, and he himself had in the end, until he too fell wounded, to load and fire the gun, ramming the charges home with his walking stick. Captain Roupell, although wounded through both wrists, continued to bring up ammunition with his forearms. Colonel Carter, wounded as he was (he was shot in the eye) and seeing the number of casualties, including his second in command, Major P.S. Wilkinson, decided on a retreat which he personally gave orders to be carried out.' (ibid).

Doctor Fletcher was also hit as he moved up and down the column tending the wounded; while the retreat was in progress, 'Colour-Sergeant Mackenzie, who was in temporary command of D Company, 1st W.A.F.F. owing to Captain Beamish being in a hammock down with fever, came up from his company, which formed the rearguard, and asked permission to charge the stockade. He was allowed to do so, and gallantly leading his men, who followed him nobly with other officers and men, captured the stockade, clearing out the enemy with the bayonet, thus saving a difficult and dangerous situation.' (ibid)

For his gallant bayonet charge Mackenzie was awarded one of the two Victoria Crosses awarded for the Ashanti War of 1900; Fletcher was awarded the D.S.O. and Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 4.12.1900); his D.S.O. was presented by the King at Buckingham Palace, 25.7.1901; Fletcher returned to West Africa, and served in Southern Nigeria 1901-02, in the Aro Expedition, where he was again Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 12.9.1902). Fletcher is also mentioned in The Relief of Kummassi by Captain H.C.J. Bliss and Kabul to Kumassi by Brigadier-General J. Willcocks.

16 D.S.O.'s were awarded for the Ashanti 1900 campaign, Fletcher's being unique to a Medical Officer.


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