Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare ‘Emin Relief Expedition’ pair awarded to William Hoffman, personal servant to Sir Henry Morton Stanley, G.C.B.

The Royal Geographical Society’s Emin Relief Expedition Silver Star, hallmarks for Birmingham 1889, reverse with contemporary inscription ‘W. Hoffman 1887-1890’, with silver ribbon pin brooch, in hinged case, the inside lid with old ink inscription ‘W. Hoffman, Emin Pasha Relief Expedition 1887-1890’; Belgium, Order of the Star of Africa, Merit Medal, 2nd Class, with 3 silver bars, in case of issue; together with, typewritten letter from Stanley to Hoffman, dated 2 January 1902, wishing him best wishes for the New Year, etc., unsigned; original copy of the Order of Service at Westminster Abbey for Sir Henry Morton Stanley’s funeral, 17 May 1904; newspaper cutting, entitled ‘Romance of A Medal’ (See footnote for details), good very fine or better (2) £1000-1500

Ex. D.N.W. 9 December 1999.

The following is extracted from the newspaper cutting, dated 15 May 1932, which accompanies the lot: ‘Within the next few days a London man will be presented with the Belgian Medaille Africaine for the second time. He is Mr William Hoffman of Essex Street, who was the personal servant of Stanley, the great African explorer, and the circumstances of the presentation are most unusual.

Over 30 years ago the Belgian Government awarded Mr Hoffman the Medaille Africane “for services rendered to our country”. Then, in 1918 Mr Hoffman discovered that his greatly prized medal had either been lost or stolen. The years passed until three weeks ago, Mr Hoffman read that the King of the Belgians was in London. That gave him an idea, and he wrote a personal letter to King Albert explaining his loss. As a consequence the King consented to present him with a duplicate medal. The award is to be made at the Belgian Embassy. Mr Hoffman entered the service of Stanley at the age of 14. Three years later, in 1887, he joined his master in the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition, which lasted until 1890. Mr Hoffman says “ When we started on that expedition we were 1,000 strong, by the time we had reached our objective on the plains near Lake Albert there were barely 200 of us left. Disease, hostile tribes, and the perils of the jungle had taken their toll of the other 800.......”