Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British North Borneo Company Medal 1897-1916, 1 clasp, Punitive Expeditions, 5mm. thick silver issue (G. Ormsby) engraved naming, extremely fine, scarce to a European £1400-1800

George Ormsby was a Magistrate in the service of the British North Borneo Company.

Extracts of a letter written by Ormsby, dated Labuan, 11 July 1892, were reprinted in The Times, in which he provides an account of a volcanic eruption on the island of Sangir.

He later served in several of the ‘punitive expeditions’ organised by the Government against local trouble-makers.

His first was in the expedition to the Marudu Hills during June 1894. Rebel leader Si Gunting with some Mumus Dusuns attacked, without warning a police post, murdering seven police officers and a clerk. The Resident, Mr Little, narrowly escaped with his life. As a result an expedition was mounted under the command of Captain Barnett. Si Gunting was pursued to the village of Saiap. There he built a stockade protected by buried stakes in the ground. Mr Dunlop with an advanced guard of 30 men made an attack on the position but was repulsed. Barnett, with Dunlop and Ormsby and the main force of 50 men then attacked the position causing Si Gunting to flee. The Dusuns lost seven men killed; the Company’s casualties amounted to 2 killed and 18 (including Barnett) wounded.

Ormsby is mentioned several times in the British North Borneo Herald reporting on the expedition to Gaya and Inanam during July 1897. Mat Salleh attacked the Government post on Gaya Island, killing a policeman and capturing a Mr Neubronner. Three days later the post was recaptured by Mr Hewett, Resident of Labuan. Moving on to Inanam, Ormsby was involved in the capture of enemy held forts and villages. Much loot was recovered, prisoners captured and Mr Neubronner safely rescued; however Salleh was able to evade the ensuing pursuit.

Ormsby was then involved in the expedition to Ranau, December 1897-January 1898. Government forces attempted to capture the fort at Ranau held by Mat Salleh and his forces. On 13 December the fort was shelled and an attack made but was repulsed with loss of Mr Jones, who commanded the seven pounder gun, and four Sikhs; with nine others wounded. The fort was besieged until 8 January when it was heavily shelled in preparation for another attack. However, Salleh, forewarned of the attack had evacuated the fort and once again escaped.

With copied research.