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Mint:
London
Artist:
Wyon, Leonard Charles
Artist:
Poynter, Edward John
Ruler:
Victoria (1837-1901)
Ruler:
Victoria regina
(With the title of)
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.
The Benin 1897 bar was given for involvement in the conquest of the previously independent Kingdom of Benin, which had existed since the 14th century. This campaign was occasioned by the slaying of eight British representatives there in 1896, in a time of increasing tension over the palm-oil trade, which Benin protected fiercely. The resultant Punitive Expedition captured and looted Benin City, which is now in Nigeria. The bar was awarded to personnel of the Navy not for this attack, however, but for the capture of the seaboard towns of Gwato (Ughoton) and Sapobo.
This example was awarded to Pvt. G. Brown of the Royal Marines, whose unit were berthed for the campaign aboard the by-now veteran HMS St George. (The Watson Collection also includes medals awarded to men of this ship from the Brass River and M'wele campaigns of 1895-1896.) Lester Watson acquired the medal at some point before 1928.
History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, acquired before 1928
Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009
Diameter: 36.4 mm
Weight: 38.44 g
Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester
1892 - 1900
Inscription present: Bust of Victoria facing left with veil
Inscription present: Scene of bush fighting around tree with fallen African to fore
Accession number: CM.1212-2009
Primary reference Number: 141306
Watson Catalogue: 105
Ordering: M-0095
Previous object number: LW.0095
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Coins and Medals
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/141306 Accessed: 2024-12-22 15:07:43
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141306
|title=East and West Africa Medal (1887-1900)
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-22 15:07:43|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:
https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-141306
To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:
<div class="text-center">
<figure class="figure">
<img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/cm/cm15/LW_0095_281_29.jpg"
alt="East and West Africa Medal (1887-1900)"
class="img-fluid" />
<figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">East and West Africa Medal (1887-1900)</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
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