Lot Archive

Lot

№ 488

.

4 April 2001

Hammer Price:
£820

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 3 clasps, Brass River 1895, Benin 1897, 1899 (Major A. G. Leonard, Niger C.P. Force) officially impressed naming, very fine and rare £600-800

Arthur Glyn Leonard was born in August 1856 and commissioned into the East Lancashire Regiment in November 1873. He served in the Afghan War 1878-80, including the actions of Ahmed Khel and Urzoo near Ghuznee (Medal with clasp); in the Egyptian Campaign of 1882-84, employed on Transport duties, including service with the Egyptian Constabulary, and present at the battles of El Teb and Tamaai (Medal with two clasps); in the Nile Expedition 1884-85, on Transport duty, including the action of El Gubat, or Abu Kru, where he was severely wounded (Despatches London Gazette 25 August 1885, two clasps, brevet of Major).

Major Leonard was present as a Political Officer, attached to the Niger Coast Protectorate Force, on the Brass River Expedition in 1895, on the Benin Expedition in 1897, and on the Central Division Expedition in 1899. His East & West Africa medal with clasps for these three expeditions is almost certainly unique to a British Army officer. Sold with copies of the relevant rolls.