Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Central Africa 1891-98, 1 clasp, Central Africa 1894-98 (Vol. S. H. Fletcher, Civilian Vols.) impressed naming, good very fine, extremely rare £700-900

As verified in a history written by a fellow volunteer, Fletcher found himself hotly engaged during the Kawinga operations of 1 February to 20 March 1895:

‘In early 1895, Chief Kawinga, another Yao whose slaving and pillaging had been a constant problem for several years, sent raiding parties to the Blantyre Mission station at Domasi, eight miles north of Zomba, in Chief Malemia’s area. D.C. Scott asked for protection so Sharpe, Zomba District Collector Donald Malloch, and forty Tonga went up to Domasi where they frightened off the attackers and constructed a fort ... The new post was manned by William Fletcher, an ex-non-commissioned officer of the Royal Engineers, along with thirty-five Tinga and Sikhs. Kawinga continued sporadic raids in the Upper Shire District until February, when Sharpe received word that he was attacking Malemia’s town and Fletcher’s fort. Gathering together a force of ninety men, Sharp and the newly arrived Fulke-Greville (who later changed his name to R. C. F. Maugham) set off in rainy darkness along the slippery path to Domasi. On these forays Sharpe always brought along two articles of which he was especially proud: a check raincoat which was no longer impermeable, and a white cotton sun umbrella painted with green stripes and carried as protection against the rain. Thus encumbered, he marched along until, suddenly hitting a slick spot, he went down head first into his parasol and rolled half way down a hill. The favourite raincoat split from neck to waist; the umbrella was ruined. Recovering his footing amidst much laughter, Sharpe and the armed party continued on, arriving at dawn to find a quiet Domasi recovering from a sharp encounter. Discovering himself short of ammunition, Fletcher had led his men in a bayonet charge routing the numerous Yaos ...’

The footnote refers to a different recipient and should be disregarded