Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Nyasaland Native Chief’s Badge, c.1914, a glazed oval badge, with a coloured printed portrait bust of King George V wearing medals and the sash of the Order of St. Michael and St. George; reverse: a coloured Union flag, ‘Nyasaland’ above, 65 x 49mm., within a silver frame, hallmarks for Birmingham 1914, with suspension loop, silvered chain, the glass beveled, by the manuafacturer ‘W.A.’ [William Adams Ltd], the obverse image badly water marked, reverse less so, the loop has been crudely repaired, therefore only fine but extremely rare £150-250

[Sir] George Smith had been appointed Governor of Nyasaland in 1913, a post he held for 10 years. In 1914, with the outbreak of the Great War, the Nyasaland-Rhodesia Field Force was formed. Nyasaland shared a short border with German East Africa. In 1915, the Nyasaland administration subdued a rebellion by John Chilembwe, which ended with his execution in February 1915. However many tribes were united against the British administration. The British and South African troops that invaded German East Africa in 1916, included some 200,000 native troops from Nyasaland. The cataloguers believe this badge to have official status, perhaps a gift of the Governor who needed the loyalty of the tribes.