Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A very rare Somaliland 1920 operations M.C. pair awarded to Lieutenant G. Godfrey, 6th King’s African Rifles, who detonated a 100lb. charge at the base of a tower of an enemy fort, the defiant, defending Dervishes having tried everyone’s nerves with streams of gunfire and abuse throughout the day

Military Cross, G.V.R.; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1920 (Lieut., 6-K.A. Rif.) edge knock to the last but generally very fine and better (2) £1800-2200

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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M.C. London Gazette 29 November 1920: ‘In recognition of distinguished services rendered in connection with military operations in Somaliland.’

An award for the attack on the Baran Forts between 22-23 January 1920. After several failed attempts to capture one of these well-defended strongholds by means of mortar and infantry attack, Colonel Wilkinson, the C.O., agreed to an attempt by Lieutenant Godfrey to blow up one of the fort’s towers with gun cotton. At 7.45 p.m., under covering machine-gun fire and in company with C.Q.M. Sergeant Wood (see next Lot) and four native troops, Godfrey crept up to the eastern tower and succeeded in detonating a 100 lb. charge. There was a terrific explosion but the results of his endeavours were not known until the following day when another patrol entered the near-deserted fort. Its condition was filthy, littered with dead bodies and animals, but quite how many of the former Godfrey accounted for will never be known, it being ascertained from a prisoner that smallpox had broken out among the Dervishes a few days earlier.