Medals Database > By Country > Great Britain (19th Century Campaign Medals)

The East and West Africa Medal

Time Period: Pre-WW1
Year of Institution: 1892
Country: Great Britain

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.

More British 19th Century Campaign Medals

The Army of India Medal

The Army of India Medal is a British campaign medal issued to officers and men of the British Army and the Army of the East India Company.

The Abyssinian War Medal

The Abyssinian War Medal is a medal awarded to those who participated in the punitive 1868 Expedition to Abyssinia.

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 Gwalior Star (Maharajpoor)

The Gwalior Star is a campaign medal presented to the soldiers of the British Army and the British led Bengal Army for the Gwalior Campaign.

The Naval General Service Medal (1847)

The Naval General Service Medal was a campaign medal issued to officers of the Royal Navy and awarded retrospectively for naval actions.

More Medals from Great Britain

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