Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. Including a superb collection of medals to the King’s German Legion, Police Medals from the Collection of John Tamplin and a small collection of medals to the Irish Guards

Three: Sergeant Joseph, King’s African Rifles

British War and Victory Medals (5956 Pte., 1/K.A.R.); King’s African Rifles L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., crowned head (5956 Sjt., K.A. Rif.) edge bruising and heavily polished, fair to fine (3) £100-120

Joseph Achirwa bin Komboni, a member of the Atonga tribe, enlisted in the 2/1st King’s African Rifles in June 1917, aged 24 years, and ‘qualified in the firing of a Maxim Gun’ in February 1918.

Although advanced to Sergeant in April 1926, not everything in Joseph’s life was running smoothly. By the early 1930s correspondence was ongoing between the District Commissioner at Chinteche and the Adjutant of the 1st K.A.R., the whole appertaining to the Sergeant having deserted his fiancee, Janet Nyabanda, and married another. Compensation of £1 was duly paid to the unfortunate Janet.

Joseph was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1934, having already been ‘exempted from payment of hut tax for one hut for life’. But in the following year he was severely reprimanded for ‘conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline by inciting dissatisfaction amongst ranks of his Company’ and was discharged at Tabora that May.