War Medals and Their History

by William Augustus Steward

Nigeria, 1902-6.—At the battle of Jidballi the Mullah's army of 5,000 men were defeated by this little force, over 1,000 of the enemy being killed. The loss in British officers was great; Captain Lister of the 10th Hussars, heir to Lord Ribbledale, and 2 others being killed, and 9 wounded. In 1905 the bar for S. NIGERIA 1902-03 was issued to those who were engaged in South Nigeria between July 1902 and June 1903, against the Iris and the Omonoha and Ebima tribesmen, and in the operations against the Chief Adukukaiku of Igarra. In 1906 it was decided to give the same bar to those who took part in the expedition in the Afikpo district between December 1902 and January 1903. In April 1905 a bar was issued inscribed S. NIGERIA 1903 to those who had taken part in the operations between April and July 27th, 1903. In 1906 it was decided that the war should be issued to those who had taken part in the expeditions in the Ebegga country west of Anan. In April 1905 an Army Order set forth that a bar was to be issued to N. NIGERIA 1903, and granted to those who took part in the Sokoto-Burmi operations between April 15th and July 27th, 1903. In January 1906 a bar for N. NIGERIA 1903-04 was authorised for distribution among the 700 native soldiers and carriers engaged in the operations in the Bassa Province between December 1903 and March 1904. A bar for N. NIGERIA 1904 was granted to those who took part in four little expeditions, and S. NIGERIA 1903-04 to those employed in the expedition between December 1903 and January 1904 against the towns of Osca, Oriri, and N'doto. The bar for S. NIGERIA 1904 was added for a series of five expeditions, and a further addition to the Nigerian clasps was made in June 1906 by the approval of one inscribed S. NIGERIA 1904-05, given for operations between November 1894 and February 1895 in the Ibibio and Kwa countries. The bar for S. NIGERIA 1905 was awarded to members of the force which operated in the Kwale district between October 10th and 18th, 1905, both dates inclusive. The bar for S. NIGERIA 1905-06 was issued to those who took part in the Bende-Onitsha Hinterland expedition, and the bar for N. NIGERIA 1906 was given to those who took part in the operations against the Satiru rebels and the Emir of Hadeija. The bar for KISSI 1905 was awarded to those engaged in that district from March to June 1905, and for NANDI 1905-06 to those employed in that neighbourhood between October 1905 and July 1906, making a total of twenty-seven bars to this medal, and indicating the constant vigilance and discipline which is necessary to maintain the outposts of our Empire.

East Africa, 1902.—The medal with bar for EAST AFRICA 1902 was awarded to all officers and men composing the Maruka patrol, which reached the Maruka district on September 4th, 1902, and operated in the district until October 25th, 1902, both dates inclusive.

East Africa, 1904.—The medal with bar EAST AFRICA 1904 was issued to all officers and men composing the Iraini patrol, which entered the Iraini country on February 13th, 1904, and patrolled it between that date and March 17th, both dates inclusive.

East Africa, 1905.—The medal with bar for EAST AFRICA 1905 was issued to all officers and men who took part in the operations in and near Sotik, from May 31st to July 12th, 1905, both dates inclusive, also to the officers and men composing the Kissi patrol, which entered the Kissi country on September 1st, 1905, and patrolled it until October 9th, 1905, both dates inclusive.

East Africa, 1906.—The medal with bar EAST AFRICA 1906 was awarded to all officers and men composing the Embo patrol, which entered the Embo country on June 18th, 1906, and operated there until July 19th, 1906, both dates inclusive.

West Africa, 1906.—The medal with bar WEST AFRICA 1906 was issued to all officers and men composing the Owa column, which left Asaba on June 9th, 1906, and operated against the people of Owa until the restoration of peace and the breaking-up of the column on August 3rd, 1906, both dates inclusive.

The medal with bar WEST AFRICA 1906 was also awarded to all officers and men who operated in the Chibuk country between November 12th and December 4th, 1906, both dates inclusive.

West Africa, 1908.—An Army Order issued in July 1910, with the approval of His Majesty King George V, granted a bar inscribed W. AFRICA 1908 to the forces who took part in the fighting in and near the Soukwala Valley on December 11th, 1908, and between December 24th and 31st, 1908, both dates inclusive.

I.G.S., 1903.—This medal, precisely similar on the reverse, except for the deletion of the date, to the India General Service Medal 1895, bears on the obverse the same bust of King Edward as on the South Africa medal. The ribbon is the same, also the suspender. With this new issue the bar for WAZIRISTAN 1901-2 was given to those who took an active part in the Mahsud Waziri blockade between November 1901 and November 1902. To those holding the 1895 medal the bar only was issued. Bronze medals were given to authorised camp followers.

Only three English soldiers received the medal—men of the Cheshires who were employed as signallers. The troops engaged were: 1st, 3rd, and 4th Sikhs; 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 22nd Punjabis; 1st, 3rd, and 5th Punjab Cavalry; Sappers and Miners.