Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Private Robbi Surur, King’s African Rifles

East and Central Africa 1897-99, 1 clasp, Uganda 1897-98 (No. 543 Rabbi Surur, Pte., 3 K.A.R.), locally impressed naming in large capitals; Africa General Service 1902-56, 6 clasps, Jubaland, Nandi 1905-06, East Africa 1902, East Africa 1905, East Africa 1906, Somaliland 1908-10 (No. 543 Pte. Rabbi Surur, 3 K.A.R.), locally impressed naming in large capitals; 1914-15 Star (543 Pte. Robbi Surur); British War and Victory Medals (543 Pte. Robbi Surur, 3/K.A.R.) the second with several crude clasp rivets and, like the first, with contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus fine or better, the Great War awards very fine or better, rare (5) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Richard Magor Collection of Medals Relating to India and Africa, and other Fine Awards.

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Rabbi Surur enlisted in the 3rd Battalion, King’s African Rifles in July 1898, presumably immediately on the back of active service in the Uganda Rifles in the operations of that year.

All of the ‘East Africa’ clasps are verified, and one of them, for the 1902 operations, is undoubtedly rare, probably less than 100 having been issued. And as a “Jubaland man”, it seems unlikely that Surur was not entitled to the first of his clasps.

The 1902 expedition was accompanied by Lieutenant R. Meinertzhagen, Royal Fusiliers, one of whose duties was to avenge the torture and murder of a white settler. When he reached the village concerned, all of the locals were dancing around the mutilated body of their victim, which had also been used as a latrine. Meinertzhagen immediately ordered that all of the offenders be despatched by bullet or bayonet, an order that was carried out to the letter. The local Political Officer, Mr. MacClean, apparently refused to give his consent or to interfere with the punishment.

Rabbi Surur, whose character was described as ‘Exemplary’ on his discharge in July 1916, was also the recipient of a King’s African Rifles L.S. & G.C. Medal.

Withdrawn