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The Africa General Service Medal

The Africa General Service Medal is a campaign medal of the United Kingdom awarded for minor campaigns that took place in tropical Africa.

The Africa General Service Medal is a campaign medal of the United Kingdom awarded for minor campaigns that took place in tropical Africa between 1900 and 1956. The medal was established in 1902.

A total of forty five clasps were issued. The medal is never seen without a clasp and some are very rare. Most medals were granted to British led local forces, including the King’s African Rifles and the West African Frontier Force. While the majority of medals were awarded with one clasp, as many as seven clasps were earned by some African recipients.

The only campaigns where European troops were present in any numbers were the various Somaliland campaigns and in Kenya.

The Africa General Service Medal Design

The Africa General Service medal was designed by George de Saulles. It measures 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter and struck in silver. The King Edward VII version was also awarded in bronze to native carriers who supported a number of the campaigns.

The obverse bears the uncrowned head, name and title of the reigning monarch. The reverse shows a symbolic design depicting Britannia standing with a lion and offering peace and law to Africa as a new day breaks, with the word AFRICA below. Save for the wording, the reverse design is the same as for the East and Central Africa Medal.

The ribbon measures 32 millimetres (1.3 in) wide and is yellow with black edges and two narrow green stripes towards the centre. From 1920 a bronze oak leaf emblem is worn on the medal ribbon to signify a mention in dispatches for a campaign for which the medal was awarded.

The King’s South Africa Medal

The King’s South Africa Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to all British and Colonial military personnel who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa, who were in the theatre on or after 1 January 1902 and who had completed 18 months service in the conflict prior to 1 June 1902.

Poor logistics, long logistics lines, disease and having to fight against a disciplined and capable enemy of excellent horsemen and marksmen made this a hard-won medal. Men often having had to go without basics such as food and water, enteric fever killed several thousand and was a constant drain on manpower. Published casualty rolls run to over 50,000 names, while contemporary studies put the actual figure for all casualties at 97,000. The King’s South Africa Medal was awarded only to those troops who fought in 1902, and who had served for 18 months.

Two date clasps were awarded for service in 1901 and 1902, but nurses did not qualify to receive either clasp.

The King’s South Africa Medal Design

The King’s South Africa Medal is struck in silver and measures 38 millimetres (1.5 inches) in diameter and 3 millimetres (0.12 inches) thick.

The obverse displays King Edward VII, in Field Marshal’s uniform and facing left, with the legend “EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR” around the upper perimeter. The reverse shows Britannia holding the Union Flag in her left hand and a laurel wreath in her right hand. In the right background are troops marching inland from the coast. In the left background are two men-of-war, with Neptune’s Trident and Britannia’s shield on the ground in the foreground. Around the top perimeter are the words “SOUTH AFRICA”.

The clasps were attached to the suspender and to each other in roller chain fashion with rivets. The ribbon measures 32 millimetres wide, with an 11 millimetres wide green band, a 10 millimetres wide white band and an 11 millimetres wide orange band.

The Ashanti Medal

The Ashanti Medal was the first campaign medal authorized by Edward VII and awarded to troops that were engaged in the Third Ashanti Expedition, also known as the War of the Golden Stool. The medal was sanctioned in October 1901.

This expedition lasted from March until December 1900, with the final outcome that the Ashanti maintained its de facto independence. Ashanti was made a Protectorate of the British Empire, but they ruled themselves with little reference to the colonial power.

The clasp ‘KUMASSI’ was awarded to the forces besieged within Kumassi between 31 March and 15 July 1900 and to members of the two relieving columns, under Colonel James Willcocks and Colonel A.P. Burroughs respectively.

About 4,400 silver and at least 900 bronze medals were awarded. While no British Army units took part in the campaign, 183 European officers and 80 European NCOs received the silver medal, as well as 139 European civilians and 4,000 locally recruited troops and constabulary who received the medal in silver.

The Ashanti Medal Design

The Ashanti medal was designed by George William de Saulles, it was circular and measured 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter.

The obverse shows the bust of King Edward VII in Field Marshal’s uniform facing left with the inscription ‘EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR’. The reverse displays the British lion standing on a rocky cliff facing a rising sun with, below, a native shield and crossed spears with a scroll bearing the inscription ‘ASHANTI’.

The medal was awarded in silver to combatants and in bronze for native carriers. The ribbon is green, measures 33 millimeters (1.3 in) wide, with three 5 millimeters (0.20 in) black stripes, one at each edge and one in the center.

The rim of the medal was impressed with the recipient’s name and unit in small square capitals. Officers’ medals often had details engraved in script.

The China War Medal (1900)

The China War Medal 1900 was a British campaign medal issued to British and Indian land and sea troops who served during the Boxer Rebellion, between 10 June and 31 December 1900 and approved on 1 January 1902.

The medal could be issued without a clasp, or with one or more of the following clasps:

  • Taku Forts: Awarded to Royal Naval personnel of the British contingent of the international fleet involved in the attack of the Taku Forts along the Peiho River on 17 June 1900.
  • Defence of Legations: Awarded a total of 132 times to Royal Marines, the British Legation Guard drawn from several regiments and to civilian volunteers who aided the defence of the Legation Quarter in Peking for 55 days between 20 June and 14 August 1900.
  • Relief of Pekin: Awarded to British and Indian army personnel and to men of the Royal Navy involved in the relief of the Legations in Peking between 10 June and 14 August 1900.

The medal was awarded to 555 naval personnel of the Colonial navies of Australia without a clasp: 256 men with the New South Wales Contingent, 197 with the Victorian, and 102 on the South Australian gunboat Protector.

The China War Medal Design

The medal was struck in silver for combatants and in bronze for native, namely Indian, bearers drivers and servants.

The obverse of the China War Medal shows a crowned and veiled effigy of Queen Victoria, facing left, with the legend “VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX” around the upper perimeter. The reverse displays the same shield bearing the Royal Arms, with a palm tree and trophy of arms behind and the inscription ‘ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACIM’ above, as found on the First and Second China War Medals. ‘CHINA 1900’ appears in the exergue below.

The ribbon measures 1.25 inches (32 mm) and is crimson with wide yellow edges.

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 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.