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Category: Great Britain

The Queen’s Sudan Medal

The Queen’s Sudan Medal was awarded to British and Egyptian forces which had taken part in the Sudan campaign between 1896 and 1898.

The Queen’s Sudan Medal was awarded to British and Egyptian forces which had taken part in the Sudan campaign between June 1896 and September 1898, and authorized in March 1899.

The campaign reflected the British desire to reverse the defeats of the Mahdist War in the 1880’s, as well as concern that France and other European powers would take advantage of Sudan’s instability to acquire parts of its territory.

Initially only the Egyptian Army was engaged. British Army units joined from early 1898, with two British brigades being present at the decisive victory at Omdurman on 2 September 1898.

The Queen’s Sudan Medal Design

The Queen’s Sudan medal is circular and measures 36.5 millimeters (1.44 in) in diameter. It was awarded in silver to soldiers of the British and Egyptian armies, and in bronze to a small number of non-combatants, mainly officers’ servants, and grooms from the Indian Army.

The obverse shows a half length crowned figure of Queen Victoria and has the legend VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse displays a plinth inscribed SUDAN supported by Nile lilies, where a figure of victory sits holding a laurel wreath and a palm branch. Behind her are the British and Egyptian flags.

The ribbon measures 31.7 millimeters (1.25 in) wide ribbon is half yellow, half black with a thin dividing red stripe. No clasps were awarded for this medal.

The Ashanti Star

The Ashanti Star was a British medal awarded to members of the expedition against the Ashanti King Prempeh, in the Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War.

The Ashanti Star was a British medal awarded to members of the expedition against the Ashanti King Prempeh, in the Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War that lasted from December 1895 to February 1896. The medal was established in 1896.

The forces who qualified for the medal included the second Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment and a composite battalion consisting of between 16 and 26 men from each of the three regiments of Foot Guards and from eight infantry regiments. About half the troops deployed were locally recruited Hausa forces. Three Nursing Sisters were also present and received the medal.

The Ashanti Medal Design

The design of the Ashanti medal is attributed to Princess Beatrice, Queen Victoria’s youngest daughter (whose husband, Prince Henry of Battenberg, died of malaria during the campaign).

The medal measures 38mm wide, it’s suspended by a loop and ring, and is a bronze four pointed star superimposed on a saltire cross.

The obverse shows a central medallion with a circlet inscribed “Ashanti 1896”, surrounding an imperial crown. The reverse displays within a circular central recess the inscription “From the Queen”, the rest of the reverse surface is plain.

The ribbon measures 31 millimeters (1.2 in) wide, yellow with two black stripes. The medal was awarded unnamed, except to members of the West Yorkshire Regiment, whose colonel had the medals engraved at his own expense.

The India General Service Medal (1895)

The India Medal is a campaign medal issued to officers and men of the British and Indian armies and approved in 1896. 

The India Medal is a campaign medal issued to officers and men of the British and Indian armies and approved in 1896. The India Medal was awarded for various minor military campaigns in India, chiefly for service on the North-West Frontier during 1895 to 1902.

This medal replaced the India General Service Medal (1854). Each campaign was represented by a clasp on the ribbon; seven were sanctioned.

The following clasps were issued with the medal:

  • Defence of Chitral 1895: 3 March – 13 April 1895
  • Relief of Chitral 1895: 7 March – 15 August 1895
  • Punjab Frontier 1897–98: 10 June 1897 – 6 April 1898
  • Malakand 1897: 26 July – 2 August 1897 (Awarded to troops involved in the Siege of Malakand.)
  • Samana 1897: 2 August – 2 October 1897
  • Tirah 1897–98: 2 October 1897 – 6 April 1898
  • Waziristan 1901–02: 23 November 1901 – 10 March 1902

The India General Service Medal Design

The medal was awarded in silver to soldiers of the British and Indian armies, and in bronze to native bearers and servants.

The obverse shows the profile of Queen Victoria or, for those awarded the medal with the Waziristan 1901–02 clasp, King Edward VII. The reverse portrays a British and an Indian soldier together carrying a standard with the inscription “India 1895”, although the Edward VII version omits the date.

The ribbon measures 1.25 inches (32 mm) wide and has five equal stripes of red, green, red, green, red.

The East and West Africa Medal

The East and West Africa Medal was a campaign medal awarded for minor campaigns that took place in East and West Africa around 1887.

The East and West Africa Medal was a campaign medal awarded for minor campaigns that took place in East and West Africa between 1887. The medal was established in 1892, and a total of twenty one clasps were issued. Most medals were granted to personnel from either the Royal Navy, the West India Regiment or British led local forces, including locally recruited police. 

Awards of the medal covered punitive expeditions against local tribesmen, generally in response to attacks against Europeans or neighboring tribes, or for operations to suppress slavery.

A total of 21 clasps were awarded. Those who qualified for a second or subsequent clasp received the new clasp only to be attached to their existing medal. While the majority of recipients only qualified for one clasp, medals have been seen with as many as seven.

The East and West Africa Medal Design

The East and West Africa was designed by Sir Edward Poynter.

The obverse bears a left-facing portrait of Queen Victoria with the inscription “VICTORIA REGINA”. The reverse has an image of British soldiers fighting Africans in dense jungle.

The medal was issued in silver to officers and men of the British led forces. It was also awarded in bronze to native porters with some clasps. The ribbon measures 31.7 millimeters (1.25 in) wide and is yellow with black edges and two black stripes towards the center.

The Royal Niger Company’s Medal

The Royal Niger Company’s Medal is a campaign medal awarded for service in minor military operations in Nigeria between 1886 and 1897.

The Royal Niger Company’s Medal is a campaign medal awarded for service in minor military operations in Nigeria between 1886 and 1897 and issued in 1899 by the Royal Niger Company. The award covered a series of small punitive expeditions in the company’s territory between 1886 and 1897, with only operations where casualties had occurred qualifying.

Those involved were locally recruited troops and constabulary employed by the Royal Niger Company, as well as a small number of British army officers and non commissioned officers seconded to local forces.

No British Army units took part. For native forces, only those who were still in service when the medal was issued received the medal. No further awards were made after the Royal Niger Company had its charter revoked in 1899.

The Royal Niger Company’s Medal Design

The medal measures 38 millimeters (1.5 in) in diameter. It was awarded in silver to Europeans (some 100 awarded) and bronze to native Africans. The medal was designed and manufactured by Spink and Son of London.

All Royal Niger Company’s medals were issued with a single clasp that read “NIGERIA 1886-1897” on the silver medals and “NIGERIA” on the bronze.

The obverse of both medals depicts a left facing portrait of Queen Victoria, designed by Sir Joseph Boehm with the inscription “VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX”.

The reverse shows the arms of the Royal Niger Company (a shield bearing the words “PAX, JUS, ARS”, Latin for Peace, Justice, Skill), with a trophy of arms and flags behind, all surrounded by a laurel wreath.

Silver medals had the name and rank of the recipient impressed or engraved on the rim. Bronze medals were issued with a number impressed on the rim.

The 31.7 millimeters (1.25 in) wide ribbon has three equal strips of yellow, black and white, with the yellow to the left when facing the wearer.

The Egypt Medal (1882–1889)

The Egypt Medal is a campaign medal awarded for military actions during the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War and in the Sudan between 1884 and 1889.

The Egypt Medal (1882–1889) is a campaign medal awarded for the military actions involving the British Army and Royal Navy during the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War and in the Sudan between 1884 and 1889.

Resentment at increasing British and other European involvement in Egypt since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 triggered an Egyptian army mutiny that threatened the authority of the British-backed Khedive of Egypt, Tewfik Pasha. In response, a British military intervention was launched to protect British interests. Once in Egypt, the British became involved in the conflicts in the Sudan, which Egypt had occupied since the 1820s.

A total of 13 clasps were awarded, two for the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882 and eleven for service in the Sudan between 1884 and 1889:

The Egypt Medal Design

The Egypt medal is struck in silver, circular and measures 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter.

The obverse displays the veiled head of Queen Victoria with the Latin legend “VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX” (‘Victoria, Queen and Empress’). The reverse shows the Sphinx on a pedestal with the word ‘EGYPT’ above.

Medals for the 1882 campaign had the year “1882” below the Sphinx. Awards for service in the Sudan from 1884-89 were undated. The recipient’s number, rank, name and regiment are engraved on the edge.

The ribbon measured 32 millimeters (1.25 in) wide, with three blue and two white stripes of equal width.

The Kabul to Kandahar Star

The Kabul to Kandahar Star was awarded to British and Indian troops who had participated in the 320 mile march from Kabul to Kandahar.

The Kabul to Kandahar Star (or the Roberts Star or Kandahar Bronze Star) was awarded to British and Indian troops who had participated in the 320 mile march from Kabul to Kandahar in Afghanistan between 9 and 31 August 1880. It was also awarded to the troops stationed en route at Kelat-i-Ghilzie, who accompanied General Roberts on the final ninety miles to Kandahar.

The march took place to relieve Kandahar, where a British force was being besieged by Afghan forces. On reaching Kandahar, Roberts decisively beat the Afghans on 1 September 1880 at the Battle of Kandahar and lifted the siege. The war was concluded soon after.

Just over 11,000 Kabul to Kandahar Stars were awarded, all recipients also receiving the Afghanistan Medal, usually with the ‘Kandahar’ bar.

The Kabul to Kandahar Medal Design

The Kabul to Kandahar medal is a bronze five-pointed star measuring 62mm high and 48mm wide and suspended by the Imperial Crown. The medal was made from guns captured at the Battle of Kandahar.

The obverse displays, in the middle, the royal monogram “VRI” surrounded by the text “Kabul to Kandahar 1880”. The reverse is plain with a hollow center, with the name of the recipient around the edge.

The Afghanistan Medal

The Afghanistan Medal is a campaign medal awarded to those who served in Afghanistan between during the Second Afghan War.

The Afghanistan Medal is a campaign medal awarded to members of the British and Indian armies who served in Afghanistan between 1878–1880 during the Second Afghan War, the first war being from 1839–1842.

The war was caused by British fears of increasing Russian involvement in Afghan affairs. In 1877 the Afghan Amir refused to accept a British Resident and in 1878 agreed a treaty with Russia granting it protective rights in Afghanistan. In response, a British-led force entered the country and advanced on Kabul. The Afghans sued for peace and accepted a British Resident in Kabul, but the Resident was murdered in September 1879 and the war recommenced. A British-led force occupied Kabul, defeating the Afghans en route at Charasia. Sporadic fighting continued and after defeat at Maiwand, a British force were besieged in Kandahar, resulting in the Afghan defeat leading to the conclusion of the war.

Medals awarded to the 66th Foot (Berkshire Regiment) and E Battery of B Brigade, Royal Artillery, rate a high premium as these units sustained the heaviest casualties as the battle of Maiwand in July 1880.

Plain silver clasps were awarded and are found as follows:

The Afghanistan Medal Design

The Afghanistan Medal is struck in silver and circular, measuring 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter.

The obverse of the medal displays a veiled effigy of Queen Victoria facing left, with “VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX” around the edge. The reverse shows marching and mounted soldiers with arms with an elephant carrying a cannon. In the upper-left of the medal around the edges is “AFGHANISTAN” and on the bottom in a straight line is “1878-79-80”.

The medal hangs from a plain suspender which is attached to the medal with a double toe claw. The ribbon for the medal is 33 millimetres (1.3 in) in width and is dark green with broad crimson edges.

The South Africa Medal (1880)

The South Africa Medal (1880) was awarded to members of the British Army, Royal Naval Brigade and Colonial Volunteers for the Anglo-Zulu War.

The South Africa Medal (1880), also known as the Zulu War Medal, is a campaign medal instituted by the British Government in 1880 and awarded to members of the British Army, Royal Naval Brigade and Colonial Volunteers who were involved in a series of South African tribal wars in the Cape of Good Hope, Colony of Natal and Transvaal between 1877 and 1879, most notably for the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.

Between 1877 and 1879 a number of particularly difficult punitive expeditions were mounted by the British against Xhosa, Zulu and Basuto tribes in the eastern area of the Cape of Good Hope and northern Natal (as well as against the Bapedi of Chief Sekhukhune in the northern Transvaal).

The medal could be awarded to all personnel, including British regular forces, Colonial Volunteers and native levies, who had served September 1877 and December 1879. The military operations during this period were a series of separate campaigns against specific tribes and the unrest would eventually culminate in the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879.

Seven clasps were awarded to recipients who had served in a campaign in the year or each of the years as denoted on the clasp:

  • “1877” – 153 clasps awarded.
  • “1877-8” – 5,822 clasps awarded.
  • “1877-8-9” – 3,525 clasps awarded to recipients who had qualifying service in all three years.
  • “1877-9” – Eight clasps awarded to recipients who had qualifying service in 1877 and 1879, with no service in 1878.
  • “1878” – 2,009 clasps awarded.
  • “1878-9” – 1,185 clasps awarded.
  • “1879” – 18,332 clasps awarded.

A total of approximately 36,600 medals were awarded.

The South Africa Medal Design

The medal was sanctioned for these campaigns, a new version of the South Africa Medal (1853) with minor alterations to the reverse design. The year “1853” in the older medal’s reverse exergue was replaced by a military trophy consisting of a Zulu ox-hide shield and four crossed assegais.

The medal was struck in silver and circular, measuring 36 millimeters in diameter. It has a swiveling suspender.

The obverse of the new medal remained identical to that of the earlier medal. It displays the diademed head of Queen Victoria, facing left. The medal is inscribed “VICTORIA” at left and “REGINA” at right around the perimeter.
The reverse shows a crouching lion on a plinth in front of a protea bush with a single flower. The medal is inscribed “SOUTH AFRICA” around the top perimeter and has a military trophy consisting of a Zulu ox-hide shield and four crossed assegais in the exergue.

The ribbon is similar to that of the South Africa Medal (1853), but with wider blue pinstripe bands. It is 32 millimeters wide, with a 2½ millimeters wide golden yellow band, a 4 millimeters wide blue band, a 3 millimeters wide golden yellow band and a 1 millimeter wide blue band, repeated in reverse order and separated by an 11 millimeters wide golden yellow band.

The Ashantee Medal

The Ashantee Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British, Colonial, and allied native forces during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War.

The Ashantee Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British, Colonial and allied native forces who were deployed against the army of the Ashanti King Kofi Karikari during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War, from June 1873 to February 1874. The medal was instituted on 1 June 1874.

Forces present included a Royal Navy contingent exceeding 3,500, two battalions of the West India Regiment, and a battalion each from the Royal Welch Fusiliers, the Black Watch and the Rifle Brigade.

The Ashantee Medal Design

The Ashantee medal is struck in silver, circular, and measures 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter. It was designed by Leonard Charles Wyon (the obverse) and  Sir Edward Poynter (the reverse).

The obverse displays the diademed, veiled head of Queen Victoria and the inscription VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse shows a scene of bush fighting between British and Ashanti in dense jungle, inspired by the campaign. 

The ribbon measures 31.7 millimeters (1.25 in) wide, with yellow with black edges and two narrow black central stripes.

The recipient’s name and unit was engraved on the rim of the medal in capitals, filled with black, along with the years 1873-4.

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