Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private Sumaili, King’s African Rifles
1914-15 Star (BR 27 Pte Sumaili 1/K A R); British War and Victory Medals (BR 27 Pte Sumaili 1/K A R) very fine

1914-15 Star (3743 Pte. Olabi Ijesha. G. Coast R.) good very fine, scarce to unit (4) £70-90

Sumaili was called up as a Reservist for the King’s African Rifles for service during the Great War. As most reservists had seen service around the turn of the century, it is possible that BR 27 Private Sumaili was the same man as 69 Sergeant Sumaili, who served during the operations in Central Africa in 1894-98, and was present at Matapwiri, September 1895; Zarafi, October 1895; Maponda, November 1895; Makanjira, November 1895; Mlozi, December 1895; Chilwa, August 1897; Mepezeni, January-February 1898 and Southern Angoniland, April 1898 (received the Central Africa Medal 1891-98 with clasp Central Africa 1894-98). He subsequently served in "D" (Atonga) Company, British Central Africa Rifles, and was present during the operations in British Central Africa 1899-1900 and in Nandi 1905-06 (received the Africa General Service Medal 1902-56 with clasps B.C.A. 1899-1900 and Nandi 1905-06). Advanced Sergeant Major, he was discharged on the reduction of the 1st King’s African Rifles in 1911.

Sergeant Sumaili’s Central Africa and Africa General Service Medals sold in these rooms in 2003.

Olabi Ijesha served with the Gold Coast Regiment during the Great War in Cameroon from 25 February 1915.