The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-05-23 00:00:00

SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN LONDON.

ASHANTEE DECORATIONS.

A number of the non-commissioned officers and men
who distinguished themselves in the Ashantee expedi-
tion were presented with medals by the Queen on
Saturday at Windsor Castle. The soldiers selected to
receive the honour at the hands of ths Sovereign. were
Sergeant Instructor of Musketry NV. Street, of the
42nd Highlanders, who was wounded at Amoaful and
Ordassu, and still carries a slug in his left knee;
Sergt. H. Barton, wounded twice at Amoaful and
Ordassu, also of the 42nd Highlanders • Private J.
White, 42nd Highlanders, who received three wounds
in the same engagements, and has lost the use of his
right arm; Private J. Ritchie, of the 42n1 Highlanders,
twice wounded at Amoaful, viz., in the right thigh
§nd left breast ; Private G. Cameron, of the 42m1
Highlanders, wounded in seven places, six times at
Amoaful and once at Ordassu ; Private Bell, 42nd

Highlanders, who lost an arm at Amoaful ; Piper
J. Wetherspoon, of the 42nd Highlanders, lvounded in
two places—on the right shoulder and neck-at
Amoaful ; Private H. Jones, 42nd I lighlanders,
wounded in the left arm, at Amoaful ; Private W.
Nicholl, of the 42nd Highlanders, who, while suffering
from fever, was wounded in the left arm at Amoaful ;
Colour-Sergeant Elphick, 23rd (Royal Welsh FUtil-
Hers); Sergeant G. Attewell, 23rd (Royal Welsh Fusi-
liers); Private Cummin, 23rd (Royal Welsh Fusiliers);
Sergt. Page, Royal Engineers; Corid. Little, Royal
Engineers; Corpl. Hough, Royal Engineers; Corpl.
Brooks, Royal Engineers; Sergt. Cook T. Armstrong,
2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade; Private G. Taylor, 2nd
Battalion Rifle Brigade; Staff-Sergt. Brookhouse,
Army Hospital Corps • Private W. Cotton, Army
Hospital Corps and As-soy Service Corps. The little de-
tachment of the 42nd Highlanders came up from Ports-
mouth; the 23rd (Welsh Fusiliers), from Shorneliffe
Camp, near Folkestone; the Rifles from Winchester,
the Royal Engineers from Chatham, Army Hospital
Corps from Netley, and the Army Service Corps from
Aldershot. All the non-commissioned officers wore
new uniforms and accoutrements, and although the
invalids still showed the effects of the trial they had
gone through, the majority of the men appeared robust
and in gisad health. Colonel Macleod ha h charge of
42nd Highlanders, Colonel Mostyn of the 2 4al (Royal
Welsh Fusiliers), Colonel Home the Royal ".ngineers,
and Colonel Warren the Rifle Brigade. 'l' • whole of
these officers were in full uniform, and ore their
decorations.

The little party, about eighteen in number, paraded
at half-past eleven o'clock in the square of the 'Victoria
Infantry Barrack, under the command of Sergeant-
Instructor of Musketry W. Street, who wore the
Highland uniform, and marched to the enlivening
strains of the bagbipes, played by Piper Wetherspoi.n.
The fine soldierly appearance of the troops attracted
g.sopr,il remmrk ne the ilete.ehmeitt
marched up the hill ~f the Grand Quadrangle of the
Cantle. Here the officers and men were met by
General Ponsonby, and ushered into the Palace, first
to the equerries' room, and thence to the corridor, RO
famous for it collections of paintings, statuary, and
works of art. In the corridor the Ashantee heroes
were mamhalled in order by the respective colonels of
their corps, the Royal Engineers bei• on the right of
the line, the 23rd (Royal Welsh Fusileers) next, then
the 42nd Highlanders, Rifle Brigade, and Army
Service and Army Hospital Corps. In this position
they awaited the coming of her Majesty.
It had been arranged that the ceremonial should
take place about noon, and the party was not kept
waiting long.
- . .

Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness Princess
Beatrice, tempted by the beauty of the morning, had
been out for a drive in a pony carriage, and returned
to the quadrangle at a quarter past twelve. As soon
as the Queen became aware of the arrival of the troops
she lost no time in visiting them. Accompanied by
Princess Beatrice, and attended by General Ponsonby,
who wore the Windsor uniform, and the ladies and
gentlemen of the Court, her Majesty, soon after
her arrival, entered the corridor, and advanced to the
Royal Engineers. Colonel Home had the honour
of introducing each soldier and detailing his
services to her Majesty, who then presented the
medals. The Queen, in a few kindly words to each,
expressed her happiness at seeing that her soldiers had
returned safe from so trying a campaign. Colonel
Moetyn, Colonel Macleod, and Colonel Warren per.
funned the same service for their respective corps, and
at the close of this very interesting ceremony her
Majesty, and the Princess retired from the corridor.
The silver medal presented by the Queen bears on one
side the following inscription "For distinguished
conduct in the field," and on the other is a has relief,
consisting of the Royal Arms, with a trophy of ban-
ners, guns, shot, drums, and bayonets. 1-pon receiv-
ing the medals the men immediately attached them to
their breasts by the parti-coloured ribbon to which
they were fastened.
By special command of her Majesty, the non-com-
missioned officers and privates of the different corps
were entertained at a substantial dinner laid in the
Band Room of the l'alace, where the healths of the
j Queen and Royal Family were drunk.
At a quarter past one o'elock the party left the Castle
and marched back to the Victoria Barracks.