The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals (Part 2)

Central Africa 1891-98, clasp, Central Africa 1894-98 (A.B. Saadi, R.N.) officially impressed naming, good very fine and rare

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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The medal and clasp was awarded for participation in one or more of the numerous small actions that occurred in the British Central African Protectorate during the period 1894-1898. A small Naval Flotilla comprising the Gunboats PIONEER, ADVENTURE and DOVE, under the Command of Lieutenant Percy Cullen RNR, with the local rank of Commander, patrolled the coastal waters of Lake Nyassa (14,000 square miles). Although mainly employed on surveying and transport duties, their officers and crews were occasionally landed with field guns to take part in a number of skirmishes during 1895. The Naval involvement centred around six operations; these were Zarafi (October 1895), Chikusi (October 1895), Mponda (November 1895), Makanjira (November 1895), Mloni (December 1895), and Mpeseni (January and February 1896). The Naval participation was reduced when in December 1895, Mlozi, the Arab Sultan of the Northern Nyassa District, was captured and executed after being tried and found guilty of numerous atrocities.

The Navy & Army Illustrated of 12 November 1897 carries an informative article and photographs of these little-known gunboats, along with photographs of their Officers and Crew Members. The following Roll containing the names of 21 Officers and Crewmen of the ‘Naval Corps’ who were entitled to the Medal and clasp, was officially certified and signed by Lieutenant Colonel W. H. M. Anning, Commanding the Armed Forces in British Central Africa (WO 100 76).

Name Rank/Rate Operations
ABDALLA. A.B. Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895
BINALI, Abdalla Serang Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895
BRIGHTON, F.D., Boatswain Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Makanjira Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895
CAPONDA. A.B. Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Makanjira Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895,
Mpeseni Jan/Feb 1896
CHANCE, S. Boatswain Chikusi Oct 1896
CULLEN, P. Commdr RN Zarafi Oct 1895, Mloni Dec 1895
DAVID. A.B. Mloni Dec 1895
FERNANDEZ, J. Asst Engr Mpeseni Jan/Feb 1896
GRAY, C Engineer Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Makanjira Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895
GURNEY, A.F. Lt R.N. Kawinga 1 Feb-30 March 1895
HAMPTON, G. Boatswain Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Makanjira Nov 1895
HIXON, J. Boatswain Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895
JOHANNA, Jack Serang Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Makanjira Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895
JUNA. A.B. Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895
MOOSSA, Ali Serang Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895
PEREIRA, P. Asst Engineer Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Makanjira Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895
PHILLIPS, W.B. Lieutenant Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895
RHOADES, E.L. Lieutenant Mponda Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895, Mpeseni Jan/Feb 1896
SAADI. A.B. Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895
SAVAGE, F.D. Boatswain Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895
VARRADERS, P Asst Engineer Zarafi Oct 1895, Mponda Nov 1895, Makanjira Nov 1895, Mloni Dec 1895