African Distinguished Conduct Medal
Ashanti Medal obv.jpg
King
Obverse and reverse of the medal
TypeBravery decoration
Awarded forBravery in the field
Country British Empire
Presented bythe Secretary of State for the Colonies
EligibilityAfrican NCOs and soldiers of the KAR and RWAFF
StatusReplaced by award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1942
Established1903[1]
King
Ribbon of all versions of the medal
Order of Wear
Next (higher)Queen’s Fire Service Medal, for Gallantry[2]
Next (lower)Indian Distinguished Service Medal[2]

The African Distinguished Conduct Medal was a military decoration awarded to native soldiers of the Royal West African Frontier Force and the King's African Rifles 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 and the Nyasaland Regiment.[3]

The medal was awarded until 1942 when it was replaced by the Imperial Distinguished Conduct Medal.[4]

Recipients

George V version, with ribbon bars
George V version, with ribbon bars

From, the 1870s, a number of awards of the Imperial Distinguished Conduct Medal were made to soldiers of native African regiments, before the creation of the African Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1903.[1]

At least 412 medals were awarded:[4]

Awards of the medal were normally gazetted in the appropriate colonial gazette,[5] with pre-1914 awards appearing in the London Gazette.[6]

Appearance

The African Distinguished Conduct Medal was a circular silver disc, 36 mm (1.4 in) in diameter, with the following design:[4]
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: 31.7 mm (1.25 in) 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Abbott, Peter (1981). British Gallantry Awards. Devon, UK: Nimrod Dix & Co. p. 71. ISBN 0902633740.
  2. ^ a b "No. 56878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3352.
  3. ^ "The African Distinguished Conduct Medal". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. The National Archives. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Mussell, John W. The Medal Yearbook 2015. Devon, UK: Token Publishing Ltd. p. 92. ISBN 9781908828170.
  5. ^ "General Notice 510". Kenya Gazette. 19 (542): 599. 4 July 1917. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  6. ^ For example:"No. 28119". The London Gazette. 13 March 1908. p. 1966.

External links

Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom
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