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East and West Africa Medal (1887-1900): CM.1206-2009

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: London
Artist: Wyon, Leonard Charles
Artist: Poynter, Edward John
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901)
Ruler: Victoria regina (With the title of)

Entities

Categories

Description

Peace-keeping operations in the British possessions in Africa, as anywhere else, required a large number of small campaigns, several of which, from 1892 until 1900, were considered to merit this medal, which in terms of design is a continuation of the Ashantee War Medal. Recipients who held that medal already were therefore awarded only extra clasps.
Witu was a small state in what is now Kenya. Established in 1858 as a colony of the Sultanate of Patu, in 1885 it became the German Protectorate of Wituland by an arrangement in which the German Tana Company protected the state from the political threat of Zanzibar. In 1890 the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty saw the Protectorate ceded to British East Africa. Protests were immediate, and when several German merchants in the city of Witu were murdered, a British punitive expedition was sent in the form of 9 Royal Navy vessels.
This medal was awarded to Petty Officer 1st Class H. Gardner, who served in this campaign aboard the sloop HMS Kingfisher. Lester Watson acquired the medal at some point before 1928.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, acquired before 1928

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36.3 mm
Weight: 37.9 g

Place(s) associated

  • London

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester

Dating

1892 - 1900

Materials used in production

Silver

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Bust of Victoria facing left with veil

  • Text: VICTORIA REGINA
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Scene of bush fighting around tree with fallen African to fore

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1206-2009
Primary reference Number: 141300
Watson Catalogue: 99
Ordering: M-0089
Previous object number: LW.0089
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Monday 15 January 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "East and West Africa Medal (1887-1900)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141300 Accessed: 2024-11-21 23:51:07

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141300 |title=East and West Africa Medal (1887-1900) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-21 23:51:07|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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