The Sultan of Zanzibar's Medal
The Sultan of Zanzibar's Medal was a campaign medal presented by the Sultan to the Zanzibaris, Indians, other Africans, and members of the East African Rifles (as well as to some British troops) in recognition for service in East Africa under the command of Lieutenant Lloyd William Matthews, RN. The medal was instituted by the Sultan in 1896 and was awarded in conjunction with the British East and West Africa Medal 1887-1900.
It was also awarded to some non-naval personnel, who qualified for the following East and West Africa medal bars: (1) WITU 1890, which was awarded to naval personnel of the following British ships: Boadicea, Brisk, Conquest, Cossack, Humber, Kingfisher, Pigeon, Redbreast, and Turquoise, all of which participated in October 26, 1890 punitive expedition; (2) the WITU 1893, which was awarded for the punitive expedition under Capt. G.R Lindley R.N. at Lamu on the Kenyan coast and (3) MWELE (rim-engraved with the dates 1895 or 1895-6 near the claw) for the naval expedition against the Sheikh of Takaungu. The Mwele Expedition included consisted of 310 British sailors, 50 Royal Marines, 54 Sudanese and 164 Zanzibari troops. A second force under Admiral Rawson with 400 British Marines and sailors followed, but was unsuccessful. The third expedition, consisting of 80 marines, 60 Sudanese and 50 Zanzibaris completely destroyed Mwele.
Sultan of Zanzibar's Medal and with Bars TAKAUNGU (top) and MWELE (Bottom)
The obverse features Sultan Hamid bin Thwain, surrounded by a Swahili inscription, which reads: EL SEYYID HAMDI BON THWAIN, SULTAN OF ZANZIBAR, AH1313. The inscription is repeated on four lines on the reverse. The straight-swiveling ribbon suspender is attached to the medal by a claw mount.
The 36mm, round Sultan of Zanzibar's Medal, struck in gold and silver, was awarded with the following bars: (1) PUMWANI for operations against the Sultan of Witu between August 7-15, 1893 near Nairobi Kenya; (2) JONGENI for operations against the Sultan's new stronghold, lying to the northeast of Witu between August 7-15, 1893; (3) TAKAUNGU for operations against the Sheikh of Takaungu during June 1895 in the historic Swahili town on the Kenyan Coast and (4) MWELE awarded for service in the naval expedition to Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania against the Sheikh of Takaungu during June 1895.
The East and West Africa medal, which is covered in detail on this site under Other 19th Century British Africa Medals, was issued in silver to the British and bronze to natives. If issued for the Mwele Naval Expedition, it is rim engraved MWELE with date 1895 or 1895-6 next to the claw.
East and West Africa Medal
East and West Africa Medal: Mission Rim Named Expedition for Mwele
Some background information was obtained from Wikipedia and was further built upon by this site. The original article and details of the authors can be found here. It was used primarily as background information and there was no intent to replicate the article directly. Any direct usage is done so under the creative commons license which can be found here.
The Sultan of Zanzibar's Medal was a campaign medal presented by the Sultan to the Zanzibaris, Indians, other Africans, and members of the East African Rifles (as well as to some British troops) in recognition for service in East Africa under the command of Lieutenant Lloyd William Matthews, RN. The medal was instituted by the Sultan in 1896 and was awarded in conjunction with the British East and West Africa Medal 1887-1900.
It was also awarded to some non-naval personnel, who qualified for the following East and West Africa medal bars: (1) WITU 1890, which was awarded to naval personnel of the following British ships: Boadicea, Brisk, Conquest, Cossack, Humber, Kingfisher, Pigeon, Redbreast, and Turquoise, all of which participated in October 26, 1890 punitive expedition; (2) the WITU 1893, which was awarded for the punitive expedition under Capt. G.R Lindley R.N. at Lamu on the Kenyan coast and (3) MWELE (rim-engraved with the dates 1895 or 1895-6 near the claw) for the naval expedition against the Sheikh of Takaungu. The Mwele Expedition included consisted of 310 British sailors, 50 Royal Marines, 54 Sudanese and 164 Zanzibari troops. A second force under Admiral Rawson with 400 British Marines and sailors followed, but was unsuccessful. The third expedition, consisting of 80 marines, 60 Sudanese and 50 Zanzibaris completely destroyed Mwele.
Sultan of Zanzibar's Medal and with Bars TAKAUNGU (top) and MWELE (Bottom)
The obverse features Sultan Hamid bin Thwain, surrounded by a Swahili inscription, which reads: EL SEYYID HAMDI BON THWAIN, SULTAN OF ZANZIBAR, AH1313. The inscription is repeated on four lines on the reverse. The straight-swiveling ribbon suspender is attached to the medal by a claw mount.
The 36mm, round Sultan of Zanzibar's Medal, struck in gold and silver, was awarded with the following bars: (1) PUMWANI for operations against the Sultan of Witu between August 7-15, 1893 near Nairobi Kenya; (2) JONGENI for operations against the Sultan's new stronghold, lying to the northeast of Witu between August 7-15, 1893; (3) TAKAUNGU for operations against the Sheikh of Takaungu during June 1895 in the historic Swahili town on the Kenyan Coast and (4) MWELE awarded for service in the naval expedition to Muheza, Tanga, Tanzania against the Sheikh of Takaungu during June 1895.
The East and West Africa medal, which is covered in detail on this site under Other 19th Century British Africa Medals, was issued in silver to the British and bronze to natives. If issued for the Mwele Naval Expedition, it is rim engraved MWELE with date 1895 or 1895-6 next to the claw.
East and West Africa Medal
East and West Africa Medal: Mission Rim Named Expedition for Mwele
Some background information was obtained from Wikipedia and was further built upon by this site. The original article and details of the authors can be found here. It was used primarily as background information and there was no intent to replicate the article directly. Any direct usage is done so under the creative commons license which can be found here.
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