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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 124

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Witu 1890 (S. Tebbenham, A.B., H.M.S. Kingfisher.), minor edge bruising and contact wear overall, very fine

One of 95 such medal with a Witu 1890 clasp awarded to Kingfisher.

Samuel Tebbenham was born at Marylebone, London on 17 July 1868, the son of George and Jane Tebbenham. Working as a Butcher prior to enlisting with the Royal Navy as Boy Class II on 22 September 1883 he reached his majority with the training ship Agincourt on 17 July 1886.

Continuing to serve he joined the crew of the sloop Kingfisher on 23 February 1888 and was advanced Able Seaman with her that Spring on 10 May. At the time she was on the East Indies Station, based in Zanzibar as part of the effort to suppress the East African Slave trade.

Kingfisher was one of the vessels to take part in the Witu Expedition in 1890 to punish the Sultan Fumo Bakari of Wituland for sheltering the murderers of several German nationals. They stormed the town of Witu on 27 November and though Fumo Bakari escaped the expedition was judged a success.

Tebbenham remained with her until the next year before going ashore. He was advanced Petty Officer Class I with the store ship Tyne on 1 January 1894. Serving largely ashore over the next decade Tebbenham died in service of pneumonia on 29 January 1904; sold together with copied service record and medal roll.

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Sold for
£250

Starting price
£110