The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards

Four: Sub. Commissioner K. MacDougall, Colonial Service, East Africa

East and West Africa 1887-1900, edge impressed Mwele 1895-6, 1 clasp, Juba River 1893 (K. MacDougall, Dist. Officer); East and Central Africa 1897-99, 1 clasp, 1898 (K. McDougall, Ogaden Expedition); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Jubaland (Kenneth MacDougall, H.M. Sub. Commissioner); Imperial British East Africa Company’s Medal (K. MacDougall), mounted as worn, the first with refixed suspension claw, some edge bruising and minor contact marks, very fine or better and rare (4) £3500-4000

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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Kenneth MacDougall originally joined the Imperial British East Africa Company in 1889.

In 1893, as a Travelling District Officer, he found himself stranded in the Company’s shallow-draft stern-wheel steamer Kenia, which broke down on the Juba River at Gobwen. The ship’s skipper was Captain Tritton (see Lot 328). As related in the footnote to the latter’s Medal, both men were rescued by Lieutenant Lewes, R.N., and, once the Kenia had been repaired, sailed up river and participated in the bombardment of the villages of Magarada and Majawen. As already discussed, the only surviving roll for the ‘Juba River 1893’ operations is for naval personnel. But the existence of the correctly impressed issues to both MacDougall and Tritton establishes beyond doubt that some civilian staff were similarly rewarded.

By 1895 MacDougall appears to have been acting as a Collector for the East African Protectorate, and, over the next year or so, became embroiled in operations against Kenya’s coastal Arabs, the Mazrui tribe, under the rebel Mbaruk, whose stronghold was at Mwele. As revealed by Foreign Office files, he was often under fire and served with distinction:

‘Mr. MacDougall’s case would indeed seem to come within the regulations. He has, I think, certainly when in command, though only a civilian, of Zanzibari troops, performed active, and, in a sense, distinguished service before the enemy. He was in charge of Takaungu when the town was surprised at night by the rebels last July, and took a conspicuous part in its defence during the fight in which Captain Raikes was wounded and two of the Sultan’s Officers killed. During the seven succeeding months he has been almost incessantly on active service, leading attacks against the rebels in every portion of his district, and has taken part in a great number of engagements, the last being in the fight at Gabina, in which he commanded one section of the Government forces and Captain Harrison the other, and which led to the enemy’s final retreat from Giriama.’

Further mention of MacDougall may be found in assorted despatches and correspondence from Sir Arthur Hardinge, in addition to the Acting Administrator, J. W. Pigott, and Captain A. E. Raikes. MacDougall’s services was also recognised by the Sultan of Zanzibar by his appointment to the Order of the Brilliant Star, 2nd class. He was given appropriate British authority to accept the insignia in September 1896, a licence being sent to him in Malindi country, where he was then employed as a District Officer.

Once again, in the troubles of 1898, MacDougall took to the field, this time against the Ogaden Somalis, and was issued with the East and Central Africa Medal with appropriate clasp in November 1901, in which latter year he was also appointed a Sub. Commissioner.

And in the Jubaland operations of 1900-01, when the Ogaden Somalis returned to the fray, he undoubtedly had just cause for willing involvement - it had been the brutal murder of a fellow Sub. Commissioner, Mr. A. C. W. Jenner, that had sparked off the troubles in the first place. MacDougall is recorded on the appropriate medal roll as having been attached to the East African Rifles.

He was latterly employed as a Registration Officer in connection with slave compensation claims (Colonial Office List 1915 refers).