Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Major A. P. Berthon, Royal Munster Fusiliers, mentioned in despatches for services in the defence of Kumassi

Ashanti 1900, 1 clasp, Kumassi, high relief bust (Capt: A. P. Berthon. R.M. Fus:) officially impressed naming, erasure before rank; 1914-15 Star (Major A. P. Berthon. R. Muns. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Major A. P. Berthon) good very fine (4) £1200-1500

Alderson Preston Berthon was born in 1872 at Southend, Essex, son of Major-General Thomas Porter Berthon. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Munster Fusiliers on 9 September 1893, becoming Lieutenant in January 1896, and Captain in March 1906. He served in West Africa in 1900, was present during the operations in Ashanti, and took part in the defence of Kumassi. He was mentioned in the despatch of Major A. Morris, D.S.O., late Commanding Kumassi Garrison, to the Governor of the Gold Coast, dated 12 July 1900 and published in the London Gazette of 4 December 1900: ‘Assistant Inspector A. P. Berthon, Gold Coast Constabulary, looked after his men well, and was most energetic in shelling the various camps and working the rocket trough.’