War Medals and Their History

by William Augustus Steward

For this arduous expedition the I.G.S. Medal 1854, with bar for HUNZA 1891, was issued to those participants who had not already received the medal for other services. Those who possessed the medal received the bar only.

East and West Africa.—A great deal of fighting had been forced upon us by the African tribes, against whom expeditions or columns had been sent from 1887 to 1892. First against the Yonnie Tribe, when the coloured men of the 1st West India Regiment fought side by side with men from the crews of H.M.S. "Acorn," "Icarus," and "Rifleman," from November 13th, 1887, to January 2nd, 1888. Next an expedition had to be sent up the Gambia River, the men of H.M.S. "Swallow" composing the force which operated between December 29th, 1891, and February 5th, 1892. Then the 1st West India Regiment again took the field on March 8th, 1892, against Tambi, men of H.M.S. "Alecto," "Race," "Sparrow," "Thrust," and "Widgeon" co-operating, and in the same year the native troops took part in the expedition against Toniataba, and in the expedition against the Jebus. For these services a medal similar to that issued for the Ashantee War was granted on November 1st, 1892, but, as in the case of the Zulu War medal, dates upon the bars are the only indication of the particular service, or services, rendered. Three bars were sanctioned, 1887-8, 1891-2, and 1892, so that the last bar was issued for three different expeditions. This is known as the East and West Africa medal, but it was not a distinct issue, for those who possessed the Ashantee medal were only given the bar or bars. The ribbon is the same as used for suspension with the Ashantee medal, and the names were either engraved or impressed on the edge of the medal.

Central Africa Medal.—In 1895 a series of operations were found necessary in Central Africa, and to decorate the native troops engaged the same medal was awarded without bars. It was, however, suspended from a brown, white, and black ribbon, 1¾ in. wide, by means of a swivel ring, so that the ribbon was run through the ring as in the case of the Abyssinian medal. This slight distinction, and the issue of a new ribbon, constitutes the medal a distinct decoration, and those who had already received the West African medal were entitled to it. It, moreover, distinguishes the Central Africa medal from the East and West Africa medal, which again had name bars added for WITU 1890 to the crews of ten of H.M. ships; LIWONDI 1893 to 3 officers and 34 men of H.M.S. "Herald" and "Mosquito"; WITU AUGUST 1893 to 200 seamen and 36 marines; JUBA RIVER 1893 to 1 officer and 40 men of the "Blanche"; LAKE NYASSA 1893 to 100 Sikhs and parties of men from H.M.S. "Adventurer" and "Pioneer"; a bar inscribed 1893-94 was issued to those who took part in the operations against the Sofas from November 1893 to January 1894; GAMBIA 1894 was inscribed on the bar to 50 of the 1st W.I.R. and parties of seamen and marines from four of H.M. ships; BRASS RIVER 1895 to men of four of H.M. ships, and NIGER 1897 to the troops taking part in the expedition to Egbon, Bida, and Ilorin or garrisoning Fort Goldie and Lokoja from January 6th to February 25th, 1897. The bars are square and set somewhat far apart; the name and rating, etc., of the recipient impressed on the edge.

Between January 1894 and April 1898 a series of operations and expeditions was found necessary against various chiefs in British Central Africa, and for these a bar inscribed CENTRAL AFRICA 1894-1898 was added to the Central Africa medal, which when issued in 1895 had a swivel ring instead of a clasp. When the bars were added in 1899 the straight-bar clasp with claw clutch—as used with the first issue of this medal, the Ashantee—replaced the swivel ring.

Ashanti, 1896.—In 1895 trouble in Ashantee necessitated the sending of a small force, comprising the 2nd Batt. of the West Yorkshire Regiment, and a composite battalion made up of 20 men of each of the three Guards Regiments, and the following eight regiments: 1st Yorkshire Light Infantry, 1st Leinster Regiment, 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, 2nd Royal Irish Fusiliers, 2nd Devons, 2nd Shropshire Light Infantry, 3rd Batt. Royal Rifles, 2nd Batt. Rifle Brigade, together with the necessary detachments of Artillery, Engineers, Army Service, Ordnance, and Medical Corps. For this campaign against King Prempeh, a very distinctive decoration was given: a St. Andrew's Cross bisects the corners of a four-pointed star, over which is a circular centre containing the Imperial crown surrounded by a plain band inscribed ASHANTI above, and 1896 below. On the back, in raised letters, is the inscription FROM THE QUEEN. The star is suspended from a yellow ribbon, with rather broad black stripes near the edges, by means of a ring; it was issued unnamed, but the Colonel of the Yorkshires had the name of each of his men and that of the regiment engraved upon their stars.

West African Medal.—For their services against Mwele a number of men from four of H.M. ships were awarded the West African medal, but, instead of a bar, MWELE 1895-6 was impressed on the edge, on either side of the clasp claw, together with the name and ship of the recipient. Those already in possession of the medal had Mwele and the date engraved on the edge. The 24th and 26th Bombay Infantry were also engaged, and they likewise received the medal: the latter have the names, etc., engraved in slanting script like India 1895 medals. A bar for NIGER 1897 was issued later, and in 1898 bars for BENIN 1897 were issued to men from nine of H.M. ships, and a bar for DAWKITA 1897 was also added for the members of the Gold Coast Constabulary who took part in the defence of Dawkita. In 1899 authority was given to add the bar for SIERRA LEONE 1898-99 to the East and West Africa medal for those engaged in the country between February 1898 and March 1899. Men of the West African Rifles and 1st West India Regiment were engaged, also some Royal Garrison Artillerymen. The name and date are arranged in two lines, and the bar is consequently rather wider than the others. The named edges are engraved in capital Roman letters, but some issued to Europeans are impressed. In 1900 it was decided to issue four more bars, and to revert to the use of dates instead of names; these bars cover 1896-8, 1897-8, 1898, and 1899. In the following year the bar inscribed 1896-99 was issued to those who had been employed in the northern parts of the Gold Coast, or in the hinterland of Lagos; later those who had been engaged in the Kadima and Munchi expeditions were awarded the medal and bar for 1900.

The Relief of Chitral.—Early in 1895 the war cloud was gathering in Chitral; the Nizam-ul-Mulk, the nominee of the British, had been shot at the instigation of his supposedly idiot half-brother, Amir-ul-Mulk, and the Indian Government was in no great haste to recognise the succession attained in such a way, especially as the Mehtar indulged in the most savagely murderous deeds. Later came the news to Surgeon-Major (afterwards Sir George) Robertson that on the night of January 22nd Umra Khan had crossed the Lowari Pass into Chitral territory with 3,000 or 4,000 followers, demanding that Amir-ul-Mulk should join him. Then Robertson made up his mind to reach Chitral, and occupy the fort in the valley, as speedily as possible. The little force pressed on, many an unfortunate man getting frost-bitten during the terribly cold nights. An ultimatum was then sent to Umra Khan, indicating that he must at once leave Chitralis territory. Of course he did not; one or two unfortunate affairs happened—the disaster at Mastuj and at the Koragh defile, where a number of the surviving Sikhs, after existing without food or water for seven or eight days, were cajoled, by the promise of life, from the little sangars in which they had taken refuge, and then cruelly murdered. The gallant defence of Rashun under Edwardes and Fowler, until they were captured by the cunning of Muhammad Isa, must be mentioned en passant.

On March 27th the famous march to Chitral began, and to join up with the force marching from India Colonel J. G. Kelly set out with his little force of 400 of the 32nd Pioneers and 40 Kashmir Sappers, with two mountain guns, from Gupis. Laboriously climbing the hill tracks, a foot deep in snow, until almost snowblind, his men reached Ghizr, 10,000 feet above sea-level, where a body of Hunza-Nagar levies were encamped. These he added to his force; then Kelly endeavoured to push through the great carpet of snow 3 feet thick. It was of no avail, for the pitiless snow blinded his men, and he had to return to Ghizr until it stopped, which it did on April 3rd. Of the heroic march of these men, of the difficulties they faced and undauntedly overcame, one is tempted to write at great length, but Sir George Robertson does fitting justice to this party of his rescuers in "Chitral, the Story of a Minor Siege."

The main force from India under Major-General Sir Robert Low advanced across the Malakund Pass after a smart fight on April 3rd, in which the Gordons and Scottish Borderers, "racing for the honour of their regiments ... swarmed over the Dechoities at a wonderful speed, and breathless but triumphant had crowned the pass by 2 o'clock, the 60th Rifles being close up." Here the British force lost 11 killed, and 47 wounded. The Jandol Valley was attacked on April 17th, and occupied next day. On the 19th General Gatacre started with a couple of battalions and some guns for Dir and Chitral; pushing across the rugged Janbatai ridge, he learned that the garrison of Chitral was almost at its last gasp—and five days' march lay between him and his goal! He therefore asked permission from Sir Robert Low to make a dash for Chitral with 500 of the Buffs, a few native sappers, and a couple of mountain guns; but when sanction was obtained it was learned that Kelly had reached Chitral, and that there was no need to hurry.

The Defence of Chitral.—Meanwhile Surgeon-Major Robertson had "directed" by a gesture Amir-ul-Mulk to leave the Mehtarship, and had raised in his stead his little brother Shuja-ul-Mulk. Then on March 3rd an unfortunate and desperate fight took place, in which Surgeon Whitchurch earned the V.C. by one of the most unselfish actions on record, and some devoted Goorkas gained the Order of Merit for the rescue of a mortally wounded officer. On March 4th the siege began in earnest, and preparations were made for the defence. Within the walls were 550 persons to be fed; to defend the place about "340 riflemen, but, excluding those in hospital, only 83 Sikhs—good shots, and trustworthy soldiers," and 52 Chitralis. How well they held the fort until the enemy melted away on April 18th, 1895, is one of the glorious records of British pluck and Indian devotion and gallantry. During the siege, and the reconnaissance of March 3rd, 41 were killed, and 62 wounded, the latter including the commander.