The African Distinguished Conduct Medal was a military decoration awarded to native soldiers of the

Royal West African Frontier Force The West African Frontier Force (WAFF) was a multi-battalion field force, formed by the British Colonial Office in 1900 to garrison the British West Africa, West African colonies of Nigeria, Gold Coast (British colony), Gold Coast, Sierra Leone ...

and the

King's African Rifles The King's African Rifles (KAR) was a British Colonial Auxiliary Forces regiment raised from Britain's East African colonies in 1902. It primarily carried out internal security duties within these colonies along with military service elsewher ...

for gallantry in action. Sometimes known as the Royal West African Frontier Force Distinguished Conduct Medal or King's African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal, it could also be awarded to the

Somaliland Camel Corps The Somaliland Camel Corps (SCC) was a British Colonial Auxiliary Forces unit which was raised in British Somaliland. It existed from 1914 until 1944. Beginnings and the Dervish rebellion In 1888, after signing successive treaties with the the ...

and the Nyasaland Regiment. The medal was awarded until 1942 when it was replaced by the Imperial

Distinguished Conduct Medal The Distinguished Conduct Medal was a decoration established in 1854 by Queen Victoria for gallantry in the field by Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military ...

Recipients

From, the 1870s, a number of awards of the Imperial

were made to soldiers of native African regiments, before the creation of the African Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1903. At least 412 medals were awarded: * King's African Rifles: Edward VII: 2; George V: 190. * West Africa Frontier Force: Edward VII: 55; George V: 165. * An unnamed George VI King's African Rifles version of the medal is known. Awards of the medal were normally

gazetted A gazette is an official journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper. In English and French speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name ''Gazette'' since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspapers ...

in the appropriate colonial gazette, with pre-1914 awards appearing in the ''

London Gazette London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 14.9 million. London stands on the River Tha ...

''.For example:

Appearance

The African Distinguished Conduct Medal was a circular silver disc, in diameter, with the following design:

Obverse The obverse and reverse are the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ''obverse'' ...

: the effigy of the reigning sovereign.
Reverse: the inscription in four lines ''FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT IN THE FIELD''. Around the top edge was inscribed either ''KING'S AFRICAN RIFLES'', ''WEST AFRICAN FRONTIER FORCE'', or ''ROYAL WEST AFRICAN FRONTIER FORCE'' (after 1928).
Ribbon: wide, it is dark blue with a central green stripe, flanked by crimson stripes.
Naming: the recipient's name and details were engraved or impressed on the rim.

References

External links

West African Frontier Force DCM, awarded in 1915

National Army Museum The National Army Museum is the British Army's central museum. It is located in the Chelsea district of central London, adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the home of the " Chelsea Pensioners". The museum is a non-departmental public bod ...

.
King's African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal
Medals of the World website.

Medals of the World website. {{Decorations of the United Kingdom Military awards and decorations of the United Kingdom Orders, decorations, and medals of the British Empire Courage awards

Recipients

Appearance

See also

References

External links