Announcement

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:03 PM

Closeup of Thomas's entry:

Attached Files

1.JPG (83.9 KB, 37 views)

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:04 PM

The proud parents were father Edwin Kirk who was a Sanitary Inspector and mother Jane Kirk. The 1881 Census records show the Kirk’s living in the Township (or Civil Parish) of Huddersfield in the county of Yorkshire, England. Besides Thomas’s Father and Mother, that this date he had 2 sisters and 1 other brother.

Attached Files

Ashanti Star 1895-96 - (Engraved to 3397 PTE. T.C. KIRK 2. W. YORKS. R.) - 1881 Census THOMAS a.JPG (54.9 KB, 38 views)

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:05 PM

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Attached Files

Ashanti Star 1895-96 - (Engraved to 3397 PTE. T.C. KIRK 2. W. YORKS. R.) - 1881 Census THOMAS b.jpg (196.5 KB, 38 views)

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:06 PM

Entries and the Closeup of entries for the Kirk Family.

1881 Census Huddersfield
Edwin Kirk, Head, age 42, sanitary inspector born Derbyshire
Jane Kirk, Wife, age 36, born Market Drayton, Shropshire
Mary M Kirk, Daughter, age 10, born Salford
Thomas C Kirk, Son, age 8, born Salford
Louisa Kirk, Daughter, age 6, born Salford
Edwin R Kirk, Son, age 2, born Huddersfield

Attached Files

1.JPG (53.5 KB, 38 views)

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:09 PM

Between 1881 and 1891 a couple of events transpired in Thomas’s life. First his father died, and second he is not showing up in the Census records of the time. One possible explanation is that it might be because it appears from his service record that he was in the 4 West York’s Regiment (Territorials?) before enlisting in the West Yorkshire Regiment and you rarely find these units listed on the census.

However his mother, now a widow, and her other children are shown living in Huddersfield in 1891 at the address given on Thomas’s service record. Indications from this Census show that Thomas now has 2 more brothers and 1 additional sister since 1881.

1891 Census Huddersfield
Blasker Road

Jane Kirk, Head, age 46, widow, born Market Drayton
Louisa Kirk, Daughter, age 17, born Manchester
Edward R Kirk, Son, age 12, born Huddersfield
Percy Kirk, Son, age 9, born Huddersfield
Beatrice M Kirk, Daughter, age 6, born Huddersfield
Arthur G Kirk, Son, age 4, born Huddersfield<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

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Attached Files

Ashanti Star 1895-96 - (Engraved to 3397 PTE. T.C. KIRK 2. W. YORKS. R.) - 1891 Census JANE a.JPG (54.4 KB, 37 views)

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:11 PM

..

Attached Files

Ashanti Star 1895-96 - (Engraved to 3397 PTE. T.C. KIRK 2. W. YORKS. R.) - 1891 Census JANE c.jpg (244.3 KB, 36 views)
Ashanti Star 1895-96 - (Engraved to 3397 PTE. T.C. KIRK 2. W. YORKS. R.) - 1891 Census JANE b.jpg (246.0 KB, 36 views)

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:12 PM

Closeup of the entries on the pages listed above:

Attached Files

1.JPG (49.6 KB, 36 views)

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:15 PM

Thomas Military Career (1892 thru 1897)

For the time being we will follow Thomas through his brief and (looking back) uneventful but disease ridden Military Career.

First the Summary of where his Military Service took him, in between some of the Medical details entered in his service record:

ENGLAND
30-11-1892 thru 08-03-1894

*Thomas attested at the depot of the West York Regiment on 30 November 1892 and was posted as a private to the 1st Battalion 21 February 1893.

*Arrived at Aldershot 21 February 1893 admitted to hospital 11 October 1893 for 6 days inflammation of gums and then for 8 days for a sore throat, finally discharged 6 November 1893.

*He was examined on 8 January 1894 for service in India and considered fit.

*Thomas was then posted to the 2nd Battalion 9 March 1894.

*Aboard the HMS Malabar on 9 March 1894 but no admission to hospital ward.

*He arrived at Rangoon 6 May 1894 and was admitted to hospital on the 2 June for 11 days with Ague (fever).

*Aboard the SS Britannia on 8 November 1894 no admission.

*Arrived at Aden on 13 November 1894 and admitted to hospital 14 November with ulcer on foot. Spent 33 days in hospital and was discharged 16 December.

*During this time Thomas was granted one pence good conduct pay on 30 November 1894.

Attached Files

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:18 PM

,,

Attached Files

WO97-3240-108-003-KIRK_THOMAS.jpg (65.2 KB, 35 views)

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:21 PM

EAST INDIES (INDIA)
09-03-1894 thru 23-11-1895

*Thomas is then shown admitted on four separate occasions between 17 December 1894 and 23 October 1895, variously for syphilis, rheumatism and inflammation of the lymph glands, for a total of 195 days.

Attached Files

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:21 PM

GIBRALTER
24-11-1895 thru 10-12-1895

*Thomas is then found fit for field service and embarks on HMS Malabar on 9 November 1895 and arrives in Gibraltar 24 November 1895, no admission whilst on board.

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**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:23 PM

WEST AFRICA
11-12-1895 thru 23-02-1896

*This next period is the time of the Ashanti Expedition and there are noted what appear to be ships, probably troop ships.

*SS Manila  11 December 1895 no admission.

*CC Castle  29 December 1895 admitted 3 February 1896 for 4 days rheumatic fever due to climate.

SS Coromandel  6 February 1896 admitted same day for 15 days continuing rheumatic fever.

*Transferred to Shore Hospital at Gibraltar.

*Thomas is shown at Gibraltar until 29 February 1896.

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:27 PM

During this time Thomas participated in the 4th Ashanti War (if you call it that). This earned his the Ashanti Star.

First up Below, some background to the history of the wars with the Ashanti and the 4 Ashanti War.

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Anglo-Ashanti Wars

The Anglo-Ashanti Wars were four conflicts between the Ashanti Empire, in the Akan interior of the Gold Coast, now Ghana, and the British Empire in the 19th century between 1824 and 1901. The ruler of the Ashanti (or Asante) was the Asantehene. The wars were mainly over the Ashanti establishing strong control over the coastal areas of what is now Ghana. Coastal peoples, such as the Fante and the inhabitants of Accra, who were chiefly Ga, came to rely on British protection against Ashanti incursions. The Ashanti impressively withstood the British in some of these wars but, in the end, the Ashanti Empire became a British protectorate.

Earlier Wars

The British were drawn into three earlier wars:

In the Ashanti-Fante War of 1806-07, the British refused to hand over two rebels pursued by the Ashanti, but eventually handed one over (the other escaped).

In the Ga-Fante War of 1811, the Akwapim captured a British fort at Tantamkweri and a Dutch fort at Apam.

In the Ashanti-Akim-Akwapim War of 1814–16 the Ashanti defeated the Akim-Akwapim alliance. Local British, Dutch, and Danish authorities all had to come to terms with the Ashanti. In 1817 the (British) African Company of Merchants signed a treaty of friendship that recognized Ashanti claims to sovereignty over much of the coast.

First Anglo-Ashanti War

The First Anglo-Ashanti War was from 1823 to 1831. In 1823 Sir Charles MacCarthy, rejecting Ashanti claims to Fanti areas of the coast and resisting overtures by the Ashanti to negotiate, led an invading force from the Cape Coast. He was defeated and killed by the Ashanti, and the heads of MacCarthy and Ensign Wetherall were kept as trophies. At the Battle of Nsamankow, MacCarthy's troops (who had not joined up with the other columns) were overrun. Major Alexander Gordon Laing returned to Britain with news of their fate.

The Ashanti swept down to the coast, but disease forced them back. The Ashanti were so successful in subsequent fighting that in 1826 they again moved on the coast. At first they fought very impressively in an open battle against superior numbers of British allied forces, including Denkyiras. However, the novelty of British Congreve rockets caused the Ashanti army to withdraw. In 1831 the Pra River was accepted as the border in a treaty, and there were thirty years of peace.

Second Anglo-Ashanti War

The Second Anglo-Ashanti War was from 1863 to 1864. With the exception of a few minor Ashanti skirmishes across the Pra in 1853 and 1854, the peace between the Ashanti and the British Empire had remained unbroken for over 30 years. Then, in 1863, a large Ashanti delegation crossed the river pursuing a fugitive, Kwesi Gyana. There was fighting, with casualties on both sides, but the governor's request for troops from England was declined and sickness forced the withdrawal of his troops.

Third Anglo-Ashanti War

The Third Anglo-Ashanti War lasted from 1873 to 1874. In 1869 a German missionary family and a Swiss missionary had been taken to Kumasi. They were hospitably treated, but a ransom was required for them. In 1871 Britain purchased the Dutch Gold Coast from the Dutch, including Elmina which was claimed by the Ashanti. The Ashanti invaded the new British protectorate.

General Garnet Wolseley with 2,500 British troops and several thousand West Indian and African troops (including some Fante) was sent against the Ashanti, and subsequently became a household name in Britain. The war was covered by war correspondents, including Henry Morton Stanley and G. A. Henty. Military and medical instructions were printed for the troops. The British government refused appeals to interfere with British armaments manufacturers who sold to both sides.

Wolseley went to the Gold Coast in 1873, and made his plans before the arrival of his troops in January 1874. He fought the Battle of Amoaful on January 31 of that year, and, after five days' fighting, ended with the Battle of Ordashu. The capital, Kumasi, was abandoned by the Ashanti and was briefly occupied by the British and burned. The British were impressed by the size of the palace and the scope of its contents, including "rows of books in many languages." The Asantahene, the ruler of the Ashanti signed a harsh British treaty, the Treaty of Fomena in July 1874, to end the war. Among articles of the treaty between H.M. Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and H.M. Kofi Karikari, King of Ashanti were that "The King of Ashanti promises to pay the sum of 50,000 ounces of approved gold as indemnity for the expenses he has occasioned to Her Majesty the Queen of England by the late war..." The treaty also stated that "There shall be freedom of trade between Ashanti and Her Majesty's forts on the [Gold] Coast, all persons being at liberty to carry their merchandise from the Coast to Kumasi, or from that place to any of Her Majesty's possessions on the Coast." Furthermore, the treaty stated that "The King of Ashanti guarantees that the road from Kumasi to the River Pra shall always be kept open..." Wolseley completed the campaign in two months, and re-embarked them for home before the unhealthy season began. There were 300 British casualties.

Some British accounts pay tribute to the hard fighting of the Ashanti at Amoaful, particularly the tactical insight of their commander, Amanquatia: "The great Chief Amanquatia was among the killed. Admirable skill was shown in the position selected by Amanquatia, and the determination and generalship he displayed in the defence fully bore out his great reputation as an able tactician and gallant soldier."

Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War

The Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War was brief, lasting only from December 1895 to February 1896. The Ashanti turned down an unofficial offer to become a British protectorate in 1891, extending to 1894. Wanting to keep French and German forces out of Ashanti territory (and its gold), the British were anxious to conquer the Ashanti once and for all. The war started on the pretext of failure to pay the fines levied on the Ashanti monarch by the Treaty of Fomena after the 1874 war.

Sir Francis Scott left Cape Coast with the main expeditionary force of British and West Indian troops in December 1895, and arrived in Kumasi in January 1896. The Asantehene directed the Ashanti not to resist, but casualties from sickness among the British troops were high. Among the dead was Queen Victoria's son-in-law, Prince Henry of Battenberg. Robert Baden-Powell led a native levy of several local tribes in the campaign. Soon, Governor William Maxwell arrived in Kumasi as well. Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh was arrested and deposed. He was forced to sign a treaty of protection, and with other Ashanti leaders was sent into exile in the Seychelles.

War of the Golden Stool

In the War of the Golden Stool (1900), the remaining Ashanti court not exiled to the Seychelles mounted an offensive against the British and Fanti troops resident at the Kumasi Fort, but were defeated. Yaa Asantewaa, the Queen-Mother of Ejisu and other Ashanti leaders were also sent to the Seychelles. The Ashanti territories became part of the Gold Coast colony on 1 January 1902.

Map of the Ashanti nation in West Africa:

Attached Files

Ashanti Star 1895-96 - (Engraved to 3397 PTE. T.C. KIRK 2. W. YORKS. R.) - ASHANTI CAMPAIGN MAP.jpg (119.2 KB, 36 views)

**Darrell** · 04-23-2013, 05:33 PM

It was during his time in India, Thomas got involved with some female company that he .. well ... shouldn't have. This would develope into some serious medical issues that would plague him for the rest of his days.

HOME
24-02-1896 thru 03-10-1896

*Thomas is shown at Dover from 30 March 1896 until 1 October 1896 with four admissions totalling 74 days for remittent fever and his gonorrhoea and syphilis problems.

*Thomas was posted to the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment on 3 October 1896.

HONG KONG
04-10-1896 thru 25-06-1897

*Thomas then embarks for Hong Kong and is shown on the SS Cephalonia Station Hospital and Hong Kong from 5 October 1896 until 18 May 1897 spending 196 days in hospital during this time being treated for gonorrhoea and syphilis.

*During this time period Thomas had his good conduct pay restored on 12 December 1896.

Below is a medical certificate of discharge from the SS Cephalonia Station Hospital ship at Hong Kong showing Thomas’s stay from 6 October 1896 to 16 November 1896 where he was treated for gonorrhoea and syphilis.

Attached Files

Announcement

Ashanti star 1895-96

Ashanti star 1895-96

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