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
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 25 March 2024
Last processed: Friday 16 May 2025
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Coins and Medals
