The Central Africa Medal was a British campaign medal awarded for service from 1891 to 1894 in Eastern and Central Africa, and from 1894 to 1898 for service in British Central Africa.
Central Africa Medal
Obverse and reverse of medal, with Central Africa 1894–98 clasp
Award of the Central Africa Medal was approved by Queen Victoria in Army Order No. 66, 1 April 1895. The initial award was for various military expeditions from July 1891 to June 1894, subsequently extended to the Unyoro Expedition in 1895.[1] It was later authorised for service in British Central Africa from 1895 to 1898. The main causes of these expeditions were to suppress slave-trading or to punish raids on neighbouring tribes.[2]
Most medals were awarded to members of the Indian Army and British-led local forces. No British Army units were present,[2] although some British officers and non commissioned officers seconded to local units received the medal, as did a small number of Royal Navy personnel.[3]
Appearanceedit
The medal is 36 millimetres (1.4 in) in diameter. It was issued in silver to combatants, while native porters and authorised servants received the medal in bronze.[4]
The obverse depicts the left facing effigy of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem with a veil behind. On either side is the inscription VICTORIA on the left and REGINA on the right.[1] The designer was Leonard Charles Wyon.[3]
The ribbon, 31.7 millimetres (1.25 in) wide, has three equal stripes of black, white and pale brown, also described as copper or terra cotta,[1] worn with the black to the left when facing the wearer.[6] The colours symbolise the troops who took part – African, European and Indian.[4]
The recipient's name and unit were usually engraved or impressed on the rim of the medal, although some were issued unnamed.[2]
Suspension and claspedit
The first version of the medal, authorised in 1895, has a swivel ring suspension and was issued without a clasp. This covered ten small Central African campaigns between 1891 and 1895, eight in the vicinity of Lake Nyassa in what is now Malawi, and two in the Unyoro and Mruli districts in Uganda.[3]
A clasp, Central Africa 1894–98, was authorised in August 1899.[7] When the medal was issued with the clasp, it hung from a straight bar suspension,[8] with existing recipients of the medal having the ring suspension replaced.[3] The medal and clasp were awarded for a number of small expeditions between 1894 and 1898 near Lake Nyassa, and one in 1897 against Chief Mpezeni in present-day Zambia.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcMayo, John Horsley (1897). Medals and Decorations of the British Army and Navy, Volume 2. A. Constable. pp. 398, 425–426.
^ abcD.W Collett. Medals Yearbook, 1981. p. 97. 1981. ISBN0950694312.
^ abcdeJoslin, Litherland and Simpkin (1988) (1988). British Battles and Medals. pp. 174–5. Published Spink, London. ISBN978-0-907605-25-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ abJohn Mussell (ed). (2014). Medal Yearbook 2015. p. 157. Token Publishing Ltd. Honiton, Devon. ISBN9781908828163.
^"Ashantee Medal 1873–74". Northeastmedals.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
^"Medals of the World United Kingdom: Ribbon Chart". Retrieved 6 February 2018.
^Narbeth, Colin (2002). Collecting Military Medals: A Beginner's Guide. Cambridge, England: Lutterworth Press. p. 48. ISBN9780718890094.
^Steward, William Augustus (1915). War Medals and Their History. S. Paul. pp. 228–229.
January 01, 1970
central, africa, medal, british, campaign, medal, awarded, service, from, 1891, 1894, eastern, central, africa, from, 1894, 1898, service, british, central, africa, obverse, reverse, medal, with, central, africa, 1894, clasptypecampaign, medalawarded, forservi. The Central Africa Medal was a British campaign medal awarded for service from 1891 to 1894 in Eastern and Central Africa and from 1894 to 1898 for service in British Central Africa Central Africa MedalObverse and reverse of medal with Central Africa 1894 98 claspTypeCampaign medalAwarded forService in Eastern and Central Africa 1891 1898DescriptionSilver or bronze 36mm in diameterPresented bythe United Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandClaspsCentral Africa 1894 98Established1 April 1895Ribbon bar of the medal First version of medal issued without a clasp with ring suspension Contents 1 Criteria 2 Appearance 3 Suspension and clasp 4 ReferencesCriteria editAward of the Central Africa Medal was approved by Queen Victoria in Army Order No 66 1 April 1895 The initial award was for various military expeditions from July 1891 to June 1894 subsequently extended to the Unyoro Expedition in 1895 1 It was later authorised for service in British Central Africa from 1895 to 1898 The main causes of these expeditions were to suppress slave trading or to punish raids on neighbouring tribes 2 Most medals were awarded to members of the Indian Army and British led local forces No British Army units were present 2 although some British officers and non commissioned officers seconded to local units received the medal as did a small number of Royal Navy personnel 3 Appearance editThe medal is 36 millimetres 1 4 in in diameter It was issued in silver to combatants while native porters and authorised servants received the medal in bronze 4 The medal uses the same design as the Ashantee Medal and the East and West Africa Medal although with a different ribbon The obverse depicts the left facing effigy of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem with a veil behind On either side is the inscription VICTORIA on the left and REGINA on the right 1 The designer was Leonard Charles Wyon 3 The reverse bears a scene inspired by the Ashanti War of British soldiers fighting the Ashanti in the jungle It was designed by Sir Edward John Poynter 5 The ribbon 31 7 millimetres 1 25 in wide has three equal stripes of black white and pale brown also described as copper or terra cotta 1 worn with the black to the left when facing the wearer 6 The colours symbolise the troops who took part African European and Indian 4 The recipient s name and unit were usually engraved or impressed on the rim of the medal although some were issued unnamed 2 Suspension and clasp editThe first version of the medal authorised in 1895 has a swivel ring suspension and was issued without a clasp This covered ten small Central African campaigns between 1891 and 1895 eight in the vicinity of Lake Nyassa in what is now Malawi and two in the Unyoro and Mruli districts in Uganda 3 A clasp Central Africa 1894 98 was authorised in August 1899 7 When the medal was issued with the clasp it hung from a straight bar suspension 8 with existing recipients of the medal having the ring suspension replaced 3 The medal and clasp were awarded for a number of small expeditions between 1894 and 1898 near Lake Nyassa and one in 1897 against Chief Mpezeni in present day Zambia 3 References edit a b c Mayo John Horsley 1897 Medals and Decorations of the British Army and Navy Volume 2 A Constable pp 398 425 426 a b c D W Collett Medals Yearbook 1981 p 97 1981 ISBN 0950694312 a b c d e Joslin Litherland and Simpkin 1988 1988 British Battles and Medals pp 174 5 Published Spink London ISBN 978 0 907605 25 6 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link a b John Mussell ed 2014 Medal Yearbook 2015 p 157 Token Publishing Ltd Honiton Devon ISBN 9781908828163 Ashantee Medal 1873 74 Northeastmedals co uk Retrieved 31 March 2013 Medals of the World United Kingdom Ribbon Chart Retrieved 6 February 2018 Narbeth Colin 2002 Collecting Military Medals A Beginner s Guide Cambridge England Lutterworth Press p 48 ISBN 9780718890094 Steward William Augustus 1915 War Medals and Their History S Paul pp 228 229 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Central Africa Medal amp oldid 1155499895, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
