Ashantee Medal 1873-74, no clasp to Avery, Master at Arms, H.M.S. Active
Awarded to W. Avery Master At Arms HMS Active 73-74.
(568 awarded to this ship).
N.E.F.
With a thick file of copied research showing that William Avery was born at Woolwich, Kent on 15 June 1841. He served initially on Fury in 1856 as a Ship's Steward, in 1861 he signed on for 10 years aboard Asia and signed on for a further 10 years. The Ashantee medal was earned aboard Active. At one point he was court martialled and deprived of this medal but it was later restored in 1873. He served as a Master at Arms from 9th Jan 1874 - 5th November 1880. He was also awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 21st July 1875 despite the earlier blemish on his record.
