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: 'GAMBIA 1894'. Inscription on edge: 'C.H.GREEN STO., H.M.S.SATELLITE'.

According to his naval record, Charles Henry Green was born in 1872 in Clacton on Sea, Essex. His occupation is given as brickmaker. He signed up for twelve years naval service on 8 September 1891 as a stoker. After training, he joined HMS ‘Satellite’, recommissioned after a refit to replace ‘Garnet’ on the Pacific Station under the command of Albert Clinton Allen. She left on 6 February 1894. By March the 4th, she had been diverted to Bathurst (present day Banjul) where a naval force under Rear Admiral Frederick George Denham Bedford was undertaking a punitive expedition against local ruler Fodi Silah. This involved shore-based operations by a naval brigade and troops from the West India Regiment. There were initial British casualties, after an ambush of part of the force. A further attack, which began with the bombardment of Gunjur, was eventually successful and Fodi Silah fled into French territory where he was captured and executed.
From 14 September 1894, Charles Green served on various vessels in home waters until he joined the crew of the newly commissioned ‘Thetis’ on 15 February 1898. After trials in the North Sea, ‘Thetis’ was assigned to the Mediterranean squadron based at Malta. Green left the Navy on 19 July 1899. His conduct record was consistently very poor with several attempts at desertion.