Auction Catalogue

2 July 2003

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 368

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2 July 2003

Hammer Price:
£160

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, West Africa 1906 (181 Pte. Popoola Ofa, S.N. Regt.) obverse with surface scratches through cleaning, good fine £80-100

This clasp was awarded to all those who served under Captain W. C. E. Rudkin, D.S.O., Royal Artillery, in punitive operations against the Owa and the Ekumeku (“The Silent Ones”), between June and August 1906, the whole to avenge the murder of Mr. O. S. Crewe-Read, an Assistant District Commissioner.

Magor states: ‘The whole district was up in arms and the Owa, who were well armed with Dane guns, were operating from thick bush and were hard to locate. There was very severe fighting around Agbor on 11 June where the rebels had gathered in great force and this determined resistance continued into July. By this time half of Rudkin’s men were casualties ... This expedition was involved in some of the heaviest bush fighting and casualties were high with 3 British Officers wounded and 12 other ranks killed and 193 wounded.’