Description
Africa General Service Medal, EDVII, bar West Africa 1906, 2704 Pte Kadiri, 2nd Battalion Northern Nigeria Regiment. Rare clasp in remarkable preserved condition.
Officially impressed: “2704 Pte Kadiri. 2/N.N. Regt.”
Confirmed on the medal roll.
In remarkable preserved condition for age retaining much detail to the bust, no signs of and edge knocks or rim knicks.
This clasp “West Africa 1906”, 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 judgement. 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.”
