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East & West Africa Medal 1887-99
Obverse: Head of Queen Victoria in a diadem and veil (left). Legend: 'VICTORIA REGINA'. Reverse: a group of soldiers and Africans fighting in the bush for their fallen comrades. Suspended from a bar, and yellow ribbon with a broad black edge and two narrow black central stripes. Bar: 'LAKE NYASSA 1893'. Inscription on edge: 'J. SYMES, A.B., H.M.S.PIONEER'. Only 20 medals with this bar were awarded to the crew of 'Pioneer'.
John Symes (1868-1950) was born in St Helier, Jersey, the son of a cab proprietor. The family had moved to Weymouth by 1871 where John Symes remained based for the rest of his life. He entered the Royal Navy on 19 November 188 as a boy 2nd class. After training, he served in HMS ‘Alexandra’ prior to her commissioning and was rated Ordinary Seaman from 31 May 1886. In 9 Nov 1886, he joined HMS ‘Orion’ at Malta. Following tensions over Russian ambitions in Afghanistan, ‘Orion’ shadowed a Russian cruiser from the Mediterranean to Singapore. Symes was rated Able Seaman from 1 Aug 1887. In October 1887 he transferred to ‘Rattler’ also on the China Station and participated in an official visit to Japan with the cruising squadron in Sept 1888. He was back in Britain from January 1890, from 12 October 1892 to 16 May 1893 in ‘Active’, flagship of the training squadron. He joined HMS ‘Raleigh’ on the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa station briefly in mid-1893. He then transferred to the river gunboat ‘Pioneer’. With a similar vessel, the ‘Adventure’, she was dismantled and reassembled on Lake Nyasa. Assisted by 110 Sikh soldiers, they took part in a punitive expedition against Mekenjire - a local ruler and slave trader who had beheaded some traders.
Symes was promoted to Leading Seaman while in ‘Royal Sovereign’ during 1894-5. During this period, she was fitted with bilge keels and later was present at the opening of the Keil Canal. He was briefly in two new battleships ‘Majestic’ and ‘Royal Oak’ during fitting out and sea trials, rated Petty Officer in the latter. From June 1896 to May 1898 he was on the books of torpedo depot ship ‘Vulcan’.
The remainder of his career was spent in home waters and he left the Royal Navy in 1906 after twenty years’ service, joining the Royal Fleet Reserve and working as a purser on Weymouth steamships. He was recalled in 1914, serving as Petty Officer 1st class in Portsmouth throughout World War 1.
In 1894 he married Emily Hill and they had two daughters.
John Symes (1868-1950) was born in St Helier, Jersey, the son of a cab proprietor. The family had moved to Weymouth by 1871 where John Symes remained based for the rest of his life. He entered the Royal Navy on 19 November 188 as a boy 2nd class. After training, he served in HMS ‘Alexandra’ prior to her commissioning and was rated Ordinary Seaman from 31 May 1886. In 9 Nov 1886, he joined HMS ‘Orion’ at Malta. Following tensions over Russian ambitions in Afghanistan, ‘Orion’ shadowed a Russian cruiser from the Mediterranean to Singapore. Symes was rated Able Seaman from 1 Aug 1887. In October 1887 he transferred to ‘Rattler’ also on the China Station and participated in an official visit to Japan with the cruising squadron in Sept 1888. He was back in Britain from January 1890, from 12 October 1892 to 16 May 1893 in ‘Active’, flagship of the training squadron. He joined HMS ‘Raleigh’ on the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa station briefly in mid-1893. He then transferred to the river gunboat ‘Pioneer’. With a similar vessel, the ‘Adventure’, she was dismantled and reassembled on Lake Nyasa. Assisted by 110 Sikh soldiers, they took part in a punitive expedition against Mekenjire - a local ruler and slave trader who had beheaded some traders.
Symes was promoted to Leading Seaman while in ‘Royal Sovereign’ during 1894-5. During this period, she was fitted with bilge keels and later was present at the opening of the Keil Canal. He was briefly in two new battleships ‘Majestic’ and ‘Royal Oak’ during fitting out and sea trials, rated Petty Officer in the latter. From June 1896 to May 1898 he was on the books of torpedo depot ship ‘Vulcan’.
The remainder of his career was spent in home waters and he left the Royal Navy in 1906 after twenty years’ service, joining the Royal Fleet Reserve and working as a purser on Weymouth steamships. He was recalled in 1914, serving as Petty Officer 1st class in Portsmouth throughout World War 1.
In 1894 he married Emily Hill and they had two daughters.
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Object Details
| ID: | MED0128 |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Coins and medals |
| Type: | War medal |
| Display location: | Not on display |
| Creator: | Poynter, Edward John; Wyon, Leonard Charles |
| Events: | East & West Africa War, 1887-1888; East & West Africa War: Lake Nyassa, 1893 |
| Vessels: | Pioneer 1892 (HMS) |
| Date made: | circa 1893 |
| People: | Symes, John |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London |
| Measurements: | Overall: 36 mm |