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. Bars: '1892', '1893-94', 'SIERRA LEONE 1898-99'. Inscription on edge: 'KROOMAN J. MANNAH. S.S.COUNTESS OF DERBY'. The 'Countess of Derby' was a colonial steamer involved in all these campaigns in Sierra Leone or the Gambia.. She carried stores and brought back wounded on the Sierra Leone River in April 1898 and took part in the expedition up the Bumpe River 11-14 May 1898 carrying troops. .

Kroomen were locally recruited African sailors originally from the Kru tribe. There was a large Kru settlement in Freetown, Sierra Leone...