Description
East and West Africa Medal, 2 clasps, 1897-98, Sierra Leone 1898-99, 1156 Private O. Francis, 2nd West India Regiment, a scarce confirmed 2 bar medal.
Officially engraved: “1156 Pte O. Francis. 2/W.I.R.”
On original frayed silk ribbon.
Confirmed on the medal roll which shows he was firstly awarded the Medal and clasp Sierra Leone 1898-99, then the Clasp only “1897-98”, both as part of the 2nd Battalion West India Regiment, and at the time of issue was serving stationed in Jamaica.
The clasp “1897-98” was awarded for the expeditions in the hinterland of Lagos and the northern territories of the Gold Coast between September 1897 and 14th June 1898.
Primarily a local affair, apart from a few British officers, NCOs and civilians as well as 30 Royal Artillery men and 2 from the Hampshire Regiment, the rest fell on the shoulders of the 559 men of the 2nd West India Regiment as well as the 1st and 2nd Northern Nigeria Regiment, Gold Coast Constabulary and the Lagos Hausa Force.
The clasp “Sierra Leone 1898-99” was awarded for service in what is more commonly referred to as the “Hut Tax War”.
There was more of a large scale deployment including many units and some Royal Navy vessels and a Sierra Leone Colonial Steamer, the Countess of Derby.
From what we can see, whilst many Sierra Leone clasps were awarded, there were a lot less “1897-98” clasps issued, making these combinations scarce and mostly seen to the West India Regiment.
