Royal Niger Company
The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company chartered by the British government in 1879 as the United African Company, renamed the National African Company in 1881 and the Royal Niger Company in 1886. Although the company existed for a comparatively short time (1879–1900), it was instrumental in the formation of colonial Nigeria. It also enabled the British Empire to establish control over the lower Niger. The company-controlled territories became the Southern Nigeria Protectorate, which was in turn was united with the Northern Nigeria Protectorate to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria in 1914.
Royal Niger Company Silver and Bronze Medals with Clasp: NIGERIA
The Niger Company Medal covered a series of small punitive expeditions in the company's territory between 1886 and 1897, with only operations where casualties had occurred qualifying for the medal. Those involved were locally recruited troops and constabulary personnel employed by the Royal Niger Company, as well as a small number of British army officers and non commissioned officers seconded to local forces. No British Army units took part. For native forces, only those who were still in service when the medal was issued received the medal. No further awards were made after the Royal Niger Company had its charter revoked in 1899. Any further operations, justifying an award, were covered by other campaign medals, including the East and West Africa Medal and the Africa General Service Medal.
The 38mm medal was awarded in silver to Europeans (approximately 100 awarded) and bronze to native Africans. All were issued with a single clasp inscribed, NIGERIA 1886-1897 on the silver medals and NIGERIA on the bronze. The obverse depicted a left facing portrait of Queen Victoria, designed by Sir Joseph Boehm with the inscription, VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse depicts the arms of the Royal Niger Company (a shield bearing the words, PAX, JUS, ARS (PEACE, JUSTICE, SKILL), with a trophy of arms and flags behind, all surrounded by a laurel wreath. Silver medals had the name and rank of the recipient impressed or engraved on the rim. Bronze medals were issued with a number impressed on the rim.
The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company chartered by the British government in 1879 as the United African Company, renamed the National African Company in 1881 and the Royal Niger Company in 1886. Although the company existed for a comparatively short time (1879–1900), it was instrumental in the formation of colonial Nigeria. It also enabled the British Empire to establish control over the lower Niger. The company-controlled territories became the Southern Nigeria Protectorate, which was in turn was united with the Northern Nigeria Protectorate to form the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria in 1914.
Royal Niger Company Silver and Bronze Medals with Clasp: NIGERIA
The Niger Company Medal covered a series of small punitive expeditions in the company's territory between 1886 and 1897, with only operations where casualties had occurred qualifying for the medal. Those involved were locally recruited troops and constabulary personnel employed by the Royal Niger Company, as well as a small number of British army officers and non commissioned officers seconded to local forces. No British Army units took part. For native forces, only those who were still in service when the medal was issued received the medal. No further awards were made after the Royal Niger Company had its charter revoked in 1899. Any further operations, justifying an award, were covered by other campaign medals, including the East and West Africa Medal and the Africa General Service Medal.
The 38mm medal was awarded in silver to Europeans (approximately 100 awarded) and bronze to native Africans. All were issued with a single clasp inscribed, NIGERIA 1886-1897 on the silver medals and NIGERIA on the bronze. The obverse depicted a left facing portrait of Queen Victoria, designed by Sir Joseph Boehm with the inscription, VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX. The reverse depicts the arms of the Royal Niger Company (a shield bearing the words, PAX, JUS, ARS (PEACE, JUSTICE, SKILL), with a trophy of arms and flags behind, all surrounded by a laurel wreath. Silver medals had the name and rank of the recipient impressed or engraved on the rim. Bronze medals were issued with a number impressed on the rim.
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