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East and West Africa Medal (1887-1900): CM.1213-2009

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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.
British interests in what is now Gambia were complicated by numerous French possessions nearby, most obviously Senegal, from which territorial claims and clandestine expansion could be moved. It also meant that when, as in 1894, British forces were committed to campaigns against slave-raider chiefs, they had somewhere close by to retreat to and hide. Thus after a month of unusually bloody fighting against the raider chief Fodi Silah, British forces were thwarted by his surrender to the French authorities in Senegal, although he died there soon afterwards.
This example of the medal and bar for that campaign was awarded to Able-Bodied Seaman W. D. Cole, of the paddle-steamer gunboat HMS Alecto (also committed to the Benin River expedition). Lester Watson purchased the medal at some point before 1928.

Notes

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

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 36.3 mm
Weight: 37.99 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.1213-2009
Primary reference Number: 141307
Watson Catalogue: 106
Ordering: M-0096
Previous object number: LW.0096
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/141307 Accessed: 2024-11-21 23:52:04

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141307 |title=East and West Africa Medal (1887-1900) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-21 23:52:04|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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