Description
Ashanti Medal, 1900, 736 Private Latunji Egunjobi, West African Frontier Force, a Veteran of 2 Campaigns in Africa, the Lagos Hinterlands Campaign and 1898 Borgu Expediiton, this medal was scrapped.
Officially impressed: “736 Pte Latunji Egunjobi. W.A.F.F.”
Confirmed on the medal roll. Good preserved condition.
Also entered onto the medal rolls for the East and West Africa Medal, 2 clasps, 1897-98 and 1898, however he never received this medal and it was scrapped for silver, the medal roll records that returned as un-issued, and later scrapped on 8th June 1921, following Britain’s desperation for silver post WW1, it was about this time they reduced all Silver Coinage down to 50% from 92.5%.
Latunji Egunjobi aka “Lutinji Oganjobi” or “Latungah Egunyobi” as his name has been interpreted on various medal rolls under the same unit and service number by various British officers who struggled with these styles of names.
The name Ogunjobi is a Yoruba name from the region of Nigeria, as this man was from the “1st Battalion Northern Nigeria Regiment, West African Frontier Force” most of the men serving in the regiment were from modern day Nigeria.
Pte Egunjobi was one of the original members of the 1st Bn Northern Nigeria Regiment WAFF, which was created by on 26th August 1897 by Captain Frederick Lugard, formed form a nucleus of the Royal Niger Constabulary dating back to 1886, a 2nd and 3rd Nigeria battalion was raised in 1898.
He saw service in 3 campaigns throughout his career.
Firstly, he would take part in the campaign that would entitle him to the “1897-98” Clasp to the East and West Africa Medal.
“Authorised in 1900 for the expeditions in the Hinterland of Lagos and the Northern Territoris of the Gold Coast between September 1897 – 14th June 1898.”
Followed by the earning of the “1898” Clasp for the Borgu Expedition of 1898.
This clasp was awarded for 3 separate expedition, in particular his service was in “The Force under Lt Colonel J. Willcocks, Leinster Regiment, in Borgu before 14th June 1898.”
During 1900, he would take part in the “War of the Golden Stool” in Ashanti, aka Ghana known locally as the “Yaa Asantewaa War”.
During the Third Ashanti War, aka the War of the Golden Stool, started over the so called Stool that the leader of the Ashanti People would use as a throne.
The war was fought in present day Ghana, at the time known as the Gold Coast.
The Golden Stool, also known as the Sika Dwa Kofi, was a symbol of the Ashanti monarchy and the embodiment of their unity and power. In March 1900, a conflict arose when the Ashanti king, Prempeh I, refused to allow the British governor, Sir Frederick Hodgson, to sit on the Golden Stool, as it was seen as a grave insult to the Ashanti people. This event led to a broader confrontation between the Ashanti kingdom and British colonial forces.
The Ashanti resistance, led by Queen Yaa Asantewaa, fought valiantly against the British and their allies. Queen Yaa Asantewaa emerged as a prominent leader during this period and is celebrated for her role in rallying the Ashanti people to defend their independence and the Golden Stool.
The war ultimately ended with the defeat of the Ashanti forces in 1900, and the Ashanti king, Prempeh I, was exiled to the Seychelles. The Golden Stool was also seized by the British. However, the Ashanti people continued to resist British rule, and their fight for independence continued for several more decades until Ghana finally gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1957.
The war is fondly remembered in Ghanaian History as an attempted revolt against the British Empire.
