War Medals and Their History

by William Augustus Steward

Suakin, 1885.—In the fight at Hasheen, 14 miles from Suakin, on March 20th, 1885, a naval brigade and marines from the fleet in the Red Sea took part and were awarded the bar for SUAKIN.

Tofrek.—At daybreak on March 22nd, 1885, a force again marched out from Suakin under Major-General Sir John McNeill, V.C.; included was a naval brigade made up of men from the "Condor," "Carysfort," "Coquette," "Dolphin," and "Sphinx," with two Gardner guns, under Commander Domville, also a battalion of marines. The object of the force was to construct zarebas, which were to be garrisoned by the 49th Regiment. The troops, having made good progress with their work, were taking things rather easily—some were breakfasting—when the sudden appearance of the enemy caused great confusion. Roaring camels, screaming mules, and frightened camp followers helped to make the confusion worse confounded as the Arabs hewed their way through the terrified animals and the helpless camp followers. The soldiers hastily rushed for their rifles, and endeavoured to form squares, into one of which, formed by the marines, about 60 Arabs forced their way, but never got out again. Again the Gardner guns jammed, and the unfortunate seamen had a bad time, as the howling Dervishes rushed into their zareba. In half an hour, however, the fight subsided, but not until a naval lieutenant and 6 men had been killed, and a number wounded. After this battle the men of the naval brigade returned to their ships, and the troops evacuated Suakin.

The Egyptian medal, described on page [211], with the bar for TOFREK, was awarded to the sailors and marines who took part in the battle.

Bars for Second Sudan War.—To those who had taken part in the war in the vicinity of Suakin in the Eastern Sudan the Egyptian medal was awarded with five bars. Those already in possession of the medal received the bars to which their services entitled them. All who served south of Assouan on or before March 7th, 1885, received the medal with a bar for THE NILE 1884-5, if not already in possession of one; likewise those who served at Suakin from March 27th, 1884, to May 14th, 1885. A bar inscribed ABU-KLEA was issued to all who took part in the fight on January 17th, 1885. A bar inscribed KIRBEKAN was awarded to those who took part in the action on February 10th, 1885, in which a small naval brigade was present with a Maxim gun. A bar with the record SUAKIN 1885 was issued to those who participated in the operations round that place between March 1st and May 14th, 1885, and a bar with TOFREK to those who took active part in the action on March 22nd, 1885. It should be particularly noted that no medals bearing single bars for ABU-KLEA, KIRBEKAN, or TOFREK were issued, and that these should be in conjunction with either SUAKIN 1885, or in the case of ABU-KLEA or KIRBEKAN with THE NILE 1884-5. Medals without bars were issued to the troops who were located in Egypt but did not participate in any of the engagements. The medals are boldly named in Roman capitals.

To those who were engaged at or to the south of Wady Haifa between November 30th, 1885, and January 11th, 1886, the medal without bar was given to those who had not already earned one, and, although the battle of Ginnis was fought during this period, no bar was issued to those who were not presented with a medal. The Khedive's star was also given to those who took part in these operations.

Gemaizah.—In 1888 Suakin was once again the centre of warfare, but the Mahdists were acting on the offensive by endeavouring to invest the place. General Grenfell therefore decided to march out and attack them. In the action, which took place on December 20th, 1888, the navy co-operated by firing from the Nile, H.M.S. "Racer" shelling the enemy's trenches, and H.M.S. "Starling" the wells; the crews of these boats were entitled to the bar for GEMAIZAH.

Tokar, 1890.—To the officers and men of H.M.S. "Dolphin" and "Sandfly," engaged in transport duty, and to the British officers who commanded the Egyptian army, the Khedive's bronze star without date, but with the record in Arabic characters TOKAR 1890 on the suspender, was awarded. This is an interesting star, and more valued than the other Khedive's, because it is the decoration for the services rendered, no bars being issued for attachment to the silver Egyptian medal, or medals awarded.

Burma, 1885-7.—To the crews of H.M.S. "Bacchante," "Woodlark," "Osprey," "Ranger," "Mariner," "Turquoise," and "Sphinx," which took part in the third Burma War, that resulted in the disposition of Theebaw and the annexation of Burma, the medal with the bar for BURMA 1885-7, as described on page [138], was granted. Those awarded to the navy were generally impressed in tall upright Roman capitals.

West Africa Medal.—The boats' crews of H.M.S. "Acorn," "Icarus," and "Rifleman" co-operated with the 1st W.I.R. in the operations from November 13th, 1887, to January 2nd, 1888, against the Yonnie tribes who had raided British territory in the vicinity of Sierra Leone. The medal, with bar 1887-8, was granted for this expedition.

Witu, 1890.—The crews of H.M.S. "Boadicea," "Brisk," "Conquest," "Cossack," "Humber," "Kingfisher," "Pigeon," "Redbreast," and "Turquoise," together with marines who took part in the expedition under Rear-Admiral D. Freemantle, C.B., to punish the Sultan of Witu for the murder of nine Germans in his territory, received the medal with the bar inscribed WITU 1890.