War Medals and Their History

by William Augustus Steward

1891-2.—The crews of H.M.S. "Alecto," "Racer," "Sparrow," "Thrush," and "Widgeon" received the medal with bar inscribed 1891-2 for their expedition against the robber chief Fodi Cabba, up the Gambia River, from December 29th, 1891, to February 5th, 1892.

1892.—The bar with 1892 was awarded to those bluejackets and marines who co-operated with the 1st W.I.R. in the expedition against Tambi from March 8th, 1892, to April 11th, 1892. The naval brigade consisted of men from H.M.S. "Alecto," "Racer," "Sparrow," "Thrush," and "Widgeon." The bar inscribed 1892 was also awarded with the medal to the naval brigade from H.M.S. "Alecto," "Racer," and "Sparrow," who co-operated with the 1st W.I.R. in the expedition which ended in the capture and destruction of the town and fort of Toniataba. The operations extended from March 12th to April 30th, 1892.

Liwondi, 1893.—A bar inscribed LIWONDI 1893 was awarded to 34 men of H.M.S. "Herald" and "Mosquito," who with a Nordenfelt gun marched under Lieutenant-Commander Carr of the latter vessel to the relief of H.M. Commissioner, Mr. H. Johnston, on the Shire River, Central Africa, between February and March 1893, when they routed the chief Liwondi. Only 29 medals were issued.

Witu August, 1893.—This bar, with the West Africa medal, was granted to about 200 men from H.M.S. "Blanche," "Swallow," and "Sparrow," who were landed under the command of Captain Geo. Robert Lindley, and with the assistance of Zanzibar and Sudanese troops punished the chief Fumo Omari. Two hundred and fifty medals were issued.

Juba River, 1893.—The bar for JUBA RIVER 1893 was awarded to about 40 men of H.M.S. "Blanche," who volunteered to proceed up the River Juba to release two Englishmen who were besieged by a force of Somalis, August 25th, 1893. They were commanded by Lieutenant Price Vaughan Lewis, R.N. Forty bars were issued for this expedition.

Lake Nyassa, 1893.—The bar for LAKE NYASSA 1893 was awarded to 36 men of the "Adventurer" and "Pioneer," two screw steamers of 35 tons, who were engaged against Makaujira and other chiefs, and in the bombardment of Okuirka in Nyassaland in 1893. One hundred and one Sikhs, who were also engaged, received the Central Africa medal, with clip and ring as described on page [228]. Thirty-six medals with this bar were issued.

Gambia, 1894.—The bar for GAMBIA 1894 was awarded to the naval brigade from H.M.S. "Alecto," "Magpie," "Raleigh," "Satellite," and "Widgeon," which landed early in February at Bathurst on the River Gambia, West Coast of Africa, to operate against Fodi Selah, a slave-raiding chief. The expedition, which lasted from February 22nd to March 11th, 1894, only achieved its object of punishing the chief after surmounting considerable difficulties, and surviving much hard fighting, during which 2 lieutenants and 17 men were killed, and nearly 50 officers and men—mostly of the "Magpie" and "Raleigh"—had been wounded. Surgeon Bowden won the D.S.O. during this expedition.

1893-4.—It is noteworthy that those men of the 1st W.I.R. who were also engaged received the medal with bar for 1893-4, instead of the bar for GAMBIA 1894; a very definite distinction is thus made between the military and the naval medal.

Benin River, 1894.—The bar for BENIN RIVER 1894 was issued to those sailors and marines of H.M.S. "Alecto," "Philomel," "Phœbe," and "Widgeon" who, assisted by Houssas, fought against the chief Náná, the terror of the inhabitants of the Benin River, whom he had plundered for a number of years. The steam launch of the "Alecto," while steaming up the narrow creek leading to the stronghold Brohemie, on August 25th, was fired upon by a concealed battery, the steersman shot dead, and every man on board wounded. In this unfortunate affair Chief Petty Officer Crouch and Leading Stoker Joseph Perkins earned the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for their exceeding bravery. On September 18th Brohemie was attacked and captured, and the expedition proceeded to another fortified town three miles distant, and this also was captured, together with Nana's war canoes, which had helped him so much in his depredations. Brohemie was then placed under the Niger Coast Protectorate. Commander Heugh and Lieutenants Hickley and Gore-Browne gained the D.S.O. in these operations.

Brass River, 1895.—The bar for BRASS RIVER 1895 was awarded to the men from H.M.S. "Barrosa," "Saint George," "Thrush," and "Widgeon" who took part in the attack on Nimbi, the stronghold of King Koko and other native chiefs, from February 17th to March 26th, 1895.