| Central Africa Medal | |
|---|---|
 Obverse and reverse of the medal | |
| Awarded by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland | |
| Type | Campaign medal |
| Awarded for | Service in Eastern and Central Africa from 1891–1894 and 1894–1898 |
| Clasps |
|
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1 April 1895 |
 Ribbon bar of the medal | |
The Central Africa Medal was awarded for service from 1891–1894 in Eastern and Central Africa, for the 1895 Unyoro Expedition, and from 1894–1898 for service in British Central Africa.
Criteria[]
Award of the Central Africa Medal was announced as being approved by the Queen in Army Order No. 66, 1 April 1895. The initial award was for various military expeditions from July 1891 to June 1894. It was subsequently authorized for the participants in the Unyoro Expedition in 1895.[2] It was later authorised for service in British Central Africa from 1895–1898
Appearance[]
The medal uses the same medal design as the Ashantee Medal and the East and West Africa Medal. The obverse depict the left facing effigy of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem with a veil behind. On either side of the effigy is the inscription VICTORIA on the left and REGINA on the right.[2]
The reverse was designed by Sir Edward John Poynter, the famous British artist. It bears a scene, inspired by the Ashanti War of British soldiers fighting the Ashanti in the jungle.[3]
The first version of the medal, issued without a clasp, hangs from a ring suspension attached to a ribbon 1 1/4 inches wide. It has three equal stripes of brown, white, and black. The brown color is also described as copper or terra cotta.[2]
A clasp, Central Africa 1894–98, was subsequently authorised. When the medal was issued with the clasp, it hung from a straight bar suspension.[4]
References[]
- ↑ Narbeth, Colin (2002). Collecting Military Medals: A Beginner's Guide. Cambridge, England: Lutterworth Press. p. 48. ISBN 9780718890094.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Mayo, John Horsley (1897). Medals and Decorations of the British Army and Navy, Volume 2. A. Constable. pp. 398, 425–426.
- ↑ "Ashantee Medal 1873–74". Northeastmedals.co.uk. http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/ashanti/ashantee_1873_74.htm. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ↑ Steward, William Augustus (1915). War Medals and Their History. S. Paul. pp. 228–229.
The original article can be found at Central Africa Medal and the edit history here.