Central Africa 1891-98, 1 clasp, Central Africa 1894-98 (579 Sgt. Rupia, 2/C. Africa R., Presented by the King) edge bruise, good very fine £300-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards.

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In the King’s African Rifles, Lieutenant-Colonel H. Moyse-Bartlett states:

‘On 3 June 1901, a detachment of the 1st Battalion Central Affrica Rifles, consisting of one Sikh (Havildar Jaimal Singh, 14th Sikhs), six Sergeants, three Corporals, 12 Privates and an Interpreter, drawn from the Yao and Atonga tribes, embarked for England under the command of Captain C. V. N. Percival (Rifle Brigade). Another detachment of 15 N.C.Os and men of the 2nd Battalion had left Accra for England on 22 May, under Captain J. Johnston-Stewart (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders). On arrival they were quartered at St. George’s Barracks and attached to the 3rd Battalion, Coldstream Guards. On 26 June they were inspected in the gardens of Marlborough House by King Edward VII, who presented medals for the recent campaigns in Ashanti and Gambia. The detachment then marched to the War Office for inspection by the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Roberts. During their stay in England the men saw the Royal Tournament, the Military Exhibition at Earls Court, and a review of the Household troops, but the most lasting impression brought back by either party was a display of Brock’s fireworks at the Crystal Palace, and a performing elephant that played a piano at the Alhambra.’

Note: In a forthcoming article for the O.M.R.S. Journal, C. B. Hill will discuss the growing liklihood of the “Presented to the King” Medals originally having been East and West Africa Medals with a straight-bar suspension but no clasp, the result of the short period of time allotted the King to reward these visiting men of the Central Africa Rifles for their services in the Ashanti 1900 operations, the Medal for which had not yet been authorised. To date, it has generally been assumed that the King gave out Central Africa Medals, a belief that would account for the above described award having been fitted with a ‘Central Africa 1894-98’ clasp to determine its identity above all of the other Africa campaign issues bearing the same obverse and reverse designs. It is Christopher Hill’s contention that this clasp should now be removed, and an East and West Africa Medal riband added.