Description
Africa General Service Medal, EDVII, bar Somaliland 1902-04, 216 Sepoy Fateh Ali, 101st Grenadiers, aka the 1st Bombay Grenadiers.
Officially impressed: “216 Sepoy Fateh Ali 101/Gren:”
Confirmed on the medal roll of The 101st Grenadiers for the medal and clasp.
As of 1901, the 1st Bombay Grenadiers were renamed the “1st Grenadier Bombay Infantry”, soon after in 1903 they took on the name “101st Grenadiers”, Somaliland would be their first campaign with this name.
An interesting article on the campaign can be read below:
http://www.kaiserscross.com/188001/484743.html
The Regiment was deployed to Somaliland in 1903, to quell the uprising of the “Dervishes” led by Sultan Diiriye Guure, during their long campaign against the “Mad Mullah” in the region.
Notably during this campaign, one of the Officers of the unit was Major George Murray Rolland, who won the Victoria Cross in the campaign during April 1903 during the Rearguard Action near Daratoleh.
Whilst a Captain in the 1st Bombay Grenadiers aka 101st Grenadiers, Capt Rolland was present in the Berbera – Bohotle Flying Column when on 22nd April 1903, the rearguard got considerably behind the remainder of the column.
Captain Rolland (101st Gren) and Captain William George Walker (4th Gurkha & Bikanir Camel Corps later Major General VC CB), a Sikh and 3 African Soldiers, were amongst the column when it was attacked by an enemy force in superior numbers led by Mohammed Abdullah Hassan, The “Mad Mullah”.
A fellow officer fell during the action and was left badly wounded, Rolland ran back 500 yards to get help while the others stayed with the wounded officer, endeavouring to keep off the enemy. They suceeded in doing that and by the time the Officer in Charge arrived, Brever Major John Jough, the Rifle Brigade had come to the rescue and managed to get the Officer off on a camel. However just as this happened the Officer was hit again and killed immediately. Brevet Major John Gough, Rifle Brigade, Captain George Rolland, 101st Grenadiers & Captain William Walker, 4th Gurkha Rifles were all awarded the Victoria Cross for their efforts.
The 101st Grenadiers had another gallant officer present, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel C.J. Mellis, VC, recently awarded the Victoria Cross for his service in the Ashanti War of 1900.
