Royal Niger Company's Medal 1886-97

[Tony Farrell]

Minted by Spink & Son of St. James's, London in 1899 for issue by the Royal Niger Company to its forces that were employed in a number of punitive actions against tribes in Nigeria. It was awarded in silver to Officers & NCOs and in bronze to natives. The clasp NIGERIA 1886-97 was authorised for the silver medal, whereas the bronze issues simply had NIGERIA on the clasp.

Fewer than 100 silver medals were issued and they are exceptionally rare and command a very high price. The illustrated example is a specimen struck from the original die and is identical in all respects to the original medals - apart from the letter S in the word Son (under the Queen's head) - which is absent on the later re-strikes.

[Ed_Haynes]

Just to add to Tony's post, a nice group went at DNW in July 2004.

As eye candy.

A rare Royal Niger Company service group of four awarded to Major J. H. Ewart, Seaforth Highlanders

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse (Capt., Sea. Highrs.); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1897-98 (Major, Lagos Hausa Force); Royal Niger Company?s Medal 1886-97, 1 clasp, Nigeria 1886-1897 (Major J. H. Ewart); Khedive?s Star 1882, minor contact marks

Admission price? ?3500!

[peter monahan]

Fewer than 100 silver medals were issued and they are exceptionally rare and command a very high price.

]

Probably a book in this for someone! The various expeditions were right out of P.C. Wren and Hollywood. The early ones involved boat trips up the Niger and Benue to suppress various slavers and "juju cults" (read human sacrifice still, unfortunately, practiced occasionally there). Launches full of Hausa levies, manned by sturdy Jack Tars, navigating narrow waterways through dense jungle under threat of poisoned arrow attack. Destination: really horrible "temple" sites.

Later, in the north, attacks on mud-walled forts and swarms of sword weilding native cavalry facing British squares and Gatling guns. British always outnumbered 10-20 to 1 and surviving by dint of superior firepower and discipline. A microcosm of the imperial story. And BTW, mud walls are not to be sneezed at. In 1980 the Kano Jail had mud walls: 30 feet high, eight feet thick and as hard as concrete. Not something I'd want to take under fire!

The Lagos Hausa Force were northerners recruited on the coast, so effectively mercenaries, like the Trans-Frontier Pathans in the Frontier Force regiments of the old Indian Army. And good fighters! The Nigerians sent 2 divisions to Burma in WWII where they had a reputation for fierceness second to none.

My tuppence worth! (I'm rambling here because the medal brings backs memories of 2 years in northern Nigeria back when I was young and adventurous).

Peter

[Ed_Haynes]

To date, the best source on these (and other African) campaigns remains R. B. Magor's African General Service Medals (revised and enlarged edition; London: [Naval and Military Press], 1993; ISBN 1-987632-26-6). But it may be hard to find as I fear it is out or print/stock (although abebooks.com list fifteen copies ranging from $15 to $81!).

[Rusty Greaves]

A current Liverpool Medals listing included a named Royal Niger Company Medal, bar Nigeria, officially numbered 19 (https://www.liverpoolmedals.com/product/royal-niger-company-medal), accompanied with good quality photo.  

 

The description reads: 

 

"Royal Niger Company Medal, bar Nigeria, officially numbered “19”, a very rare medal to locally recruited forces serving under the Royal Niger Company. 

 

Produced and named by Spink & Son circa 1899 on behalf of the Royal Niger Company.

 

Rim officially impressed with the number “19”.

 

A very low issue number, corresponding to that of Private Awudu Dishi, who served in the Royal Niger Constabulary at the time.

 

He would receive from the British Government the matching East and West Africa Company Medal, with clasp Nigeria.

 

Only about 1,000 of these medals were issued numbered in Bronze at the time to the locally employed Soldiers and Police in the region.

 

The 1000 medals were numbered between the ranges of 1 and 2342, however it would only be issued to such a small number of recipients as they had to be still in the employment of the Royal Niger Company at the time of the medals issue to be given the medal.

 

Right as the medal was being issued, during 1899, the Royal Charter for the Royal Niger Company was revoked, the British Government purchasing all their territories owned by the company, forming the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria."

 

The image on the Liverpool Medals listing is high-resolution, it can be zoomed for additional details. 

 

 

 

[Rusty Greaves]

Here is another example, also form the most recent Liverpool Medals catalogue (https://www.liverpoolmedals.com/product/royal-niger-company-medal-nigeria?mc_cid=a4f154f49d&mc_eid=eb61970ca6; SKU J9095). The verbatim description reads: 

 

"Description

Royal Niger Company Medal, bar Nigeria, officially numbered “2054”, a very rare medal to locally recruited forces serving under the Royal Niger Company. 

 

Produced and named by Spink & Son circa 1899 on behalf of the Royal Niger Company.

 

Rim officially impressed with the number “2054”.

 

The medal overall is in excellent preserved condition, it has a piece of the original silk ribbon on the medal, this ribbon slightly frayed is very rare, we have never had another with a piece of silk ribbon from the period.

 

 

Only about 1,000 of these medals were issued numbered in Bronze at the time to the locally employed Soldiers and Police in the region.

 

The 1000 medals were numbered between the ranges of 1 and 2342, however it would only be issued to such a small number of recipients as they had to be still in the employment of the Royal Niger Company at the time of the medals issue to be given the medal.

 

Right as the medal was being issued, during 1899, the Royal Charter for the Royal Niger Company was revoked, the British Government purchasing all their territories owned by the company, forming the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria."

 

 

 

 

Edited November 1 by Rusty Greaves