Casualties during the Operations in East Africa.

Regiments.Officers.Men.
K.W.K.W.
104th Wellesley's Rifles1-274
124th D.C.O. Baluchis----
116th Mahrattas-126
127th P.W.O. Baluch L.I.231920

Ashanti, 1900.

This distinction has been conferred on the West African Regiment, in commemoration of its services in the campaign undertaken for the relief of the Residency of Coomassie during the rebellion in Ashantee in the year 1900. The practical annexation of the kingdom of Ashantee after the campaign of 1890, for which no battle honour was granted, though a bronze decoration was awarded to the troops, had not been accepted with any degree of heartfelt loyalty by the people, and, though peace had been maintained, it was known that this was due to the personal ascendancy of successive Residents rather than to the acquiescence of the people in the new state of affairs. During the absence of the permanent Resident it was determined to obtain possession of the Golden Stool, the emblem of royalty. To effect this, a small expedition was despatched from Kumassi, the capital and seat of the Residency. This expedition was repulsed, and the repulse was followed by a general upheaval of the tribes. The Residency was closely besieged, and there were no troops on the coast to despatch to its relief.

Brigadier-General Willcocks, an officer who to youth added experience, was selected to command an expeditionary force; but, in consequence of the war in South Africa, it was found inexpedient to employ British troops. The General set out on his mission with a mixed force, made up of detachments from the various corps in West Africa. The West India Regiment furnished its quota, as did the West African Frontier Force, the Central African Frontier Regiment, and the West African Regiment, of which the greater part was engaged. The country was an exceedingly difficult one, but its difficulties were known. Although the rising commenced in the month of April, it was not until July that Sir William James Willcocks was ready to move forward. His force numbered, all told, 152 whites and 2,800 natives, the former including a number of invaluable non-commissioned officers. It was fiercely opposed the whole way from the coast to Kumassi, and the severity of the fighting may be gauged from the fact that the total losses amounted to 9 Englishmen and 113 natives killed, and 53 English and 680 natives wounded.

[CHAPTER XXIV]

BATTLE HONOURS FOR THE SECOND AFGHAN WAR

Afghanistan, 1878-1880—Ali Masjid—Peiwar Kotal—Charasiah—Kabul, 1879—Ahmad Khel—Kandahar, 1880.