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. Bar: 'WITU'. Inscription on edge: 'E MCAFFERTY A.B. H.M.S.BRISK.' Suspended from a bar, and yellow ribbon with a broad black edge and two narrow black central stripes.

Edward McAfferty (1862-1930) entered the Royal Navy on 12 June 1877 as a boy 2nd class and signed up for ten years’ service on 10 Jun 1880 on being rated Ordinary Seaman. At this time, he was serving in HMS ‘Sylvia’ on the China Station, he spent some months on ‘Victor Emmanuel’ the receiving ship at Hong Kong. From 2nd March 1881 he was in gunboat HMS ‘Mosquito’, being now rated as Able Seaman. Whilst 'Mosquito' was returning to the UK in 1882, her crew were involved in the seizure of Chalouf during the capture of the Suez Canal (an action during the campaign in Egypt). After 'Mosquito' was paid off, McAfferty was employed in home waters. In August 1884, he joined the old ironclad ‘Minotaur’ in the Channel Squadron and served in her until 11 April 1887. Then he joined HMS ‘Raleigh’ on the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station. From her, he was transferred to the cruiser ’Brisk’, which participated in the punitive expedition in present day Kenya, against the Sultan of Witu, Fumo Bakari ibn Ahmad. During 1892 to 1894, he served in the troopships ‘Euphrates’ and HMS ‘Serapis’, then was back in the Channel Squadron in new battleship ‘Majestic’. He was in HMS ‘Hood’, during the naval intervention during the 1897-1898 uprising on Crete. McAfferty was pensioned in 1902 and remained in Portsmouth. He was recalled for service in 1913 but discharged as medically unfit in 1914 - his conduct record had been variable. He died in Portsmouth in 1934.