Description
Africa General Service Medal, EDVII, bar N. Nigeria 1904, 3071 Private Taio, 2nd Northern Nigeria Regiment.
Officially impressed: “3071 Pte Taio. N.N. Regt”
Confirmed on the medal roll.
A further medal roll confirms that he was later issued the loose bar for “West Africa 1906” for additional service in the same regiment which would make an unusual combination.
The clasp on this medal “N. Nigeria 1904” was awarded for 4 expeditions in Northern Nigeria during that year:
“1) Under the Command of Lieutenant SBB Dyer DSO, 2nd Life Guards, in the Dakka Kerri Country in march 1904.
2) Under the command of Lieut (Capt) P.M. Short, Gloucestershire Regiment, against the pagan tribes who occupy the country north of Wase on the high road from the Bauchi between 25th March and 18th April 1904, both dates inclusive.
3) Under the command of Captain GC Merrick DSO, Royal Artillery, against the people of Semolika in October 1904.
4) Under Command of Lieutenant IG Sewell, Royal Fusiliers, against the Kilba Tribe north of Yola in July 1904.”
His service soon afterwards in West Africa warranted the award of the clasp “West Africa 1906”
This clasp was given to all the Officers and Men who operated in the Chibuk country under the Command of Lieut P. Chapman, DSO, Royal Fusiliers, between 12th November and the 4th December 1906, and all men who operating in that same district under the command of Lieutenant E. J. Wolesley, of the East Lancashire Regiment, between 22nd December 1906 and the 17th February 1907.
The London Gazette, 13th March 1908 lists the following about the campaign in the despatch:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28119/page/1965/data.pdf
As I informed you in my first despatch, Chibuk Hill has long been a stronghold of desperadoes who, using the hill as their sanctuary, terrorised the neighbourhood, looting and murdering the inhabitants of the surrounding country, pillaging caravans, &c.
The Resident at Bornu called upon Lieutenant Chapman to reduce the place. The operations throughout appear to have been well planned and carried out with great skill and dash. Owing to the very difficult nature of the country, the number of casualties on our side has been very heavy.
I quote from a letter written by Mr. Hewby, Resident of Bornu, an official who has been seven years in Government employ in the Protectorate, and was for many years before that in the service of the Royal Niger Company, Limited. He writes:
“I venture to state my deliberate opinion that no military operations have taken place during the last seven years in which the troops engaged had such genuine fighting to do under extraordinarily difficult and nerve-trying conditions. With regard to these military operations, which involved the loss of 10 men killed and 40 wounded, I beg to offer my opinion that the officers and men engaged are entitled to any reward open to them, and I should be glad if the Commandant could be informed of my full appreciation of the energy and resource of Lieutenant Chapman, who commanded the operations.”
Chibuk Hill is absolutely honeycombed with caves, with subterranean passages—some nearly a mile in length. Almost all of the fighting was at very close quarters.
The operations under Lieutenant Chapman lasted from November 12th, 1906, to December 4th, 1906. Lieutenant Wolseley was at Chibuk from December 22nd, 1906, until February 17th, 1907. By a careful system of picquetting the various water supplies, he eventually forced the enemy to capitulate. During this time, he lost 1 man killed and about 10 wounded.
I would bring to your special notice the services of Lieutenant P. Chapman, 7th Royal Fusiliers. He conducted the operations with great skill and judgment. Lieutenant Chapman speaks in the highest terms of the coolness and gallantry of Lieutenant C. A. Chaytor, Yorkshire Light Infantry. This officer, in addition to being wounded, received an arrow through his helmet; a sergeant who was speaking to him had his brains dashed out by an arrow.
The Officer Commanding is loud in his praise of the conduct of Mr. A. C. Parsons, the medical officer. In addition to attending a large number of wounded men, Mr. Parsons was also in charge of Lieutenant Burnett, Highland Light Infantry, who was in a critical condition with blackwater fever. Mr. Parsons was absolutely indefatigable in the performance of his duties.
