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: 'SIERRA LEONE 1898-9'. Inscription on edge: 'HORACE EVANS, E.R.A. 3 CL. H.M.S. ALECTO'.

Horace Evans (1873-1928) was born in Leeds, the son of Thomas Evans who worked for the railways. He entered the Royal Navy in 1895 as an acting engine room artificer, his former occupation given as a fitter and turner. As ERA 4th class, he was attached to various shore bases until July 1897 when he joined paddle vessel HMS ‘Alecto’ 1882, being promoted to ERA 4th class. There had been violent resistance in Sierra Leone following the imposition of a tax of five shillings per hut to meet the cost of administering the newly established protectorate. ‘Alecto’ conveyed troops along the Bankasoka river to Port Loko in the interior. Her men also formed part of a naval brigade. This medal was only awarded to naval personnel who came under fire. Evans returned to England in August 1898. He served in two newly completed ships HMS ‘Highflyer’ and HMS ‘Pomone’, then later in home waters in HMS ‘Anson’. He was promoted Artificer Engineer in 1903. In 1911, he was in survey ship HMS ‘Hearty’ working in the Channel and the North Sea. Evans was pensioned in 1912 but was recalled in 1915. He received the British War Medal for services in World War 1 as Chief Artificer Engineer. In 1919 he was based in Sunderland, appearing in the ‘Navy List under Engineer Overseers and Staff. In the 1921 census he is shown working for the shipbuilders William Doxford & Sons as an engine works traffic manager. This company was based in Sunderland when Horace Evans died.

The Evans family had moved to Crewe, Cheshire in the 1880’s. Horace married Sarah Elizabeth Steele during 1907, in nearby Wistaton.