Orders, Decorations and Medals

An extremely rare Great War King’s African Rifles D.C.M. awarded to Corporal Mahomed Ishmael, Arab Rifles

King’s African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7750 Cpl. Mahomed Ishmael, Arab Rifles), better than very fine £700-900

Approximately 250 King’s African Rifles D.C.Ms were awarded between 1904-25, just three of them to the Arab Rifles - Ishmael’s medal being issued from Woolwich on 19 August 1919.

Two small units of the Arab Rifles were formed for service in German East Africa. One of them, drawn from the Reserve Company of the 3rd K.A.R., served in Jubaland prior to moving to the Lindi area in early 1917. The other, raised by Major A. J. B. Wavell, the famous soldier and explorer, and known locally as “Wavell’s Own Arabs”, saw action on the Anglo-German East Africa border as early as August 1914. Sadly, the gallant Major, and 30 of his men, died in an ambush on a German column in January 1916.