Announcement

**Darrell** · 02-05-2010, 09:18 PM

MEDAL INFORMATION<o></o>
Abyssinia Medal (4 October 1867 to 19 April 1868)<o></o>
<o></o>
Face<o></o>
A coroneted and veiled bust of Queen Victoria surround by an ornamented, nine-pointed star. Between the points of the star are the letters of the word ‘ABYSSINIA’<o></o>
<o></o>
Reverse
Within an encircling laurel wreath the plain central disc bears the Number, Name and Regiment of the recipient in embossed lettering, the pattern of which varies. Most of the native Indian troops received medals with engraved naming.<o></o>
<o></o>
Size
The disc of the medal is approx 32 mm in diameter. The length of the medal over the ring suspender is approx 69mm. The medal is of silver.<o></o>
<o></o>
Ribbon
Approximately 39 mm wide red with white edges, each approx 9 mm wide.<o></o>

Suspension
The ribbon is threaded through a ring approx 18 mm diameter fixed by a swivel fitting to the top of an Imperial crown. Beneath the crown, and integral with it, is an ornamental connecting piece which is sweated on to the top edge of the disc. Medals with signs of repair to this joint are quite common.
<o></o>
<o></o>Naming
Embossed in square capitals on the reverse of the disc for British recipients (see above).<o></o>
<o></o>
Awarded
To all Royal Navy and British and Indian Army personnel who took part in the campaign against King Theodore of Abyssinia. The King had imprisoned the British Consul, the British Political Resident at Aden and a number of missionaries and other Europeans because of an imagined slight on his Sovereignty by Queen Victoria and the British Government. The small expedition under Lieutenant General Sir Robert Napier was sent from India in December 1867. Following its incompetence in organisation and generalship displayed in the Crimean Campaign, the British Army was ‘on trial’ before its European contemporaries.<o>

</o> The isolated position of Theodore’s stronghold at Magdala meant constructing a base port on the Red Sea coast and supplying the Army on its march of almost 400 miles to Magdala through virtually unknown barren, mountainous country in the face of unfriendly natives and possible dangers from wild animals. To be a success the expedition had to be completed in six months, before the rainy season made the normally inhospitable terrain completely impassable. This depended largely on the efficiency of the logistical support.<o>

</o> The expedition set out at the end of January 1868 and after the decisive battle of Arogie on Good Friday, 10th April, Magdala was stormed and taken on the Easter Monday. Theodore shot himself on sight of the first troops breaching the defences, whereupon opposition ceased and the prisoners were freed. On 19th April the Army began its long march back to the coast, where it arrived at the end of May, having executed a campaign notable for the fact that its purpose was not the occupation or colonisation of a country. Moreover, its success and the manner in which it was achieved served to re-establish the reputation of the British Army in the eyes of the World.<o></o>

Attached Files

Abyssinian War Medal - Obverse.jpg (49.3 KB, 44 views)

**Darrell** · 02-05-2010, 09:19 PM

Closeup of Crown Obverse:

Attached Files

Abyssinian War Medal - Obverse Crown.JPG (69.8 KB, 44 views)

**Darrell** · 02-05-2010, 09:19 PM

Closeup of Obverse:

Attached Files

Abyssinian War Medal - Obverse Closeup.jpg (96.9 KB, 44 views)

**Darrell** · 02-05-2010, 09:20 PM

Reverse:

Attached Files

Abyssinian War Medal - Reverse.jpg (49.5 KB, 44 views)

**Darrell** · 02-05-2010, 09:20 PM

Closeup of Reverse Crown:

Attached Files

Abyssinian War Medal - Reverse Crown.JPG (72.8 KB, 43 views)

**Darrell** · 02-05-2010, 09:22 PM

Closeup of Reverse and the embossed Naming.

This medal was costly to make due to the embossed nature of the naming requiring a die to be cut for each individual medal’s reverse. Although the medals were struck at the Royal Mint (with a blank reverse) the naming was carried out by the firm of G. Austin who used an unrecorded method of punching mild steel cylinders with the name which was then used to hammer the reverse of the medal. This resulted in flattening of the obverse which is evident on most examples encountered today.

Attached Files

Abyssinian War Medal - Reverse Closeup.jpg (85.7 KB, 45 views)

**Darrell** · 02-05-2010, 09:28 PM

Three scans of the original Abyssinian Rolls indicating that Worrall was entitled to the medal.

a.

Attached Files

Abyssinian War Medal - Roll 1.jpg (103.1 KB, 43 views)

**Darrell** · 02-05-2010, 09:28 PM

b. First page of the 1st Battalion, 4th KOR Regt.

Attached Files

Abyssinian War Medal - Roll 2.jpg (146.9 KB, 43 views)

**Darrell** · 02-05-2010, 09:30 PM

c. The page with Worrall's name listed (red arrow):

Attached Files

Abyssinian War Medal - Roll 3.jpg (134.6 KB, 43 views)

**peter monahan** · 02-06-2010, 08:06 AM

Another fine looking medal. Although the reverse is nothing to write home about, and the obverse a bit 'odd' by conventional standards, I find that the overall look: proportion of medal size to ribbon width and the symmetrical arrangement 'round the edge plus the lovely crown suspender make this one a joy to look at. Always regretted never having acquired one!

Peter

**Darrell** · 02-06-2010, 09:35 AM

Peter, yes these were definitely "odd" by the usual standards of the day. Almost has that Belgium CdG type of design flavor to it.

Interesting was the method of naming. When one hears the word "embossed" or "relief" you typically would imagine a die made to produce the reverse naming. However, the "stamping" method mentioned is rather bizarre to say the least. Especially when it would possibly "flatten" the obverse features

Apparently, this design did not last, and there was concern over the numerous repairs that had to be done on the delicate features which is so common on these guys. I am glad I managed to find one that is NOT repaired in anyway.

Announcement

Abyssinian War Medal

Abyssinian War Medal

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Users Viewing this Thread