Africa General Service 1902-56, 2 clasps, Jubaland, Nandi 1905-06 (Desmond D. Waller) engraved naming in large capitals, unofficial rivets, slight edge bruising, scratch to obverse, very fine £400-500

Desmond Walker was Paymaster to the East African Rifles and subsequently, the 3rd Battalion King’s African Rifles on two punitive expeditions against troublesome African tribes. His first campaign was against the Ogaden Somalis in 1900-01 and involved extensive close order fighting in tall elephant grass. The second, against the Nandi in 1905-06 was a tedious affair that took eight months to complete. Waller, although a civilian, served in the field with the troops in both expeditions and suffered severely from heat stroke while in Jubaland in July 1901. He was promoted Director of Transport & Principal Immigration Officer in December 1911. In this latter position he was responsible for facilitating the immigration of Indian workers to sustain the agricultural development of British East Africa. He retired on a pension in 1916. He obtained a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Chinese Labour Corps in 1917.

With copied extract on Mr Waller and his work, taken from an article in The Dixon Gazette by Keith Steward.