Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. Including a superb collection of medals to the King’s German Legion, Police Medals from the Collection of John Tamplin and a small collection of medals to the Irish Guards

A rare Ashanti 1900 C.M.G. group of four awarded to H. B. W. Russell, Private Secretary to Colonel Sir James Willcocks, Commanding Ashanti Field Force

The Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels, complete with ribbon buckle; Coronation 1902, bronze; Ashanti 1900, 1 clasp, Kumassi, high relief bust (H. B. W. Russell, C.M.G., A.F. Fce.); Colonial Auxiliary Forces L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (Capt., C.M.G.) together with original Warrant and Statutes for C.M.G., and two related 55th West Lancashire Division sports medals, silver and gilt, both awarded in 1921 to Private H. W. Russell, Liverpool Scottish, generally extremely fine (6) £1800-2200

Henry Blythe Westrap Russell was born in Toronto, Canada, on 3 August 1868. He was educated at the Liverpool Institute and at Freiburg in the German State of Baden. He travelled extensively in in West Africa and founded the firm of H. B. W. Russell and Co., merchants on the Gold Coast, Southern Nigeria. Whilst at Cape Coast in June 1900, Russell volunteered his services as private secretary to Colonel J. Willcoks, then assembling his staff for the Ashanti Field Force that he was to lead to the relief of Kumassi.

Russell was mentioned in the despatch of Colonel J. Willcocks, Commanding Ashanti Field Force, London Gazette 4th December, 1900: ‘Mr H. B. W. Russell, Private Secretary.-This gentleman volunteered his services at Cape Coast, and I was most fortunate in getting him; he has worked incessantly ever since I landed, and I strongly recommend him, especially as his chief object in coming was in order to have an opportunity of doing some service to the State.’ Russell was created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, London Gazette 9 November 1901 ‘in recognition of his services while employed with the Ashanti Field Force.’ This is believed to be one of only two such awards for the Ashanti campaign.

Russell was subsequently Consul of the Netherlands at Cape Coast Castle, and a Captain in the Gold Coast Volunteers. He died on 24 July 1912.