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Auction: 17003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 712

A particularly impressive Mau Mau operations B.E.M. awarded to Headman Reuben Kyambuthi, Kikuyu Guard Patrol: keeping 'an extremely cool head' when his patrol was attacked by a heavily armed Mau Mau gang, he led a charge that accounted for six of the terrorists

British Empire Medal, Civil Division, E.II.R. (Reuben Kyambuthi), officially impressed naming, the obverse figure of Britannia somewhat defaced but otherwise very fine


B.E.M. London Gazette 21 December 1954:

'A Kikuyu Guard Patrol led by a District Officer and consisting of 10 Africans under the command of Headman Reuben Kyambuthi, became engaged with a heavily armed Mau Mau gang. Very early in the engagement the District Officer was seriously wounded and fell to the ground. The Headman, on seeing his officer put out of action, kept an extremely cool head, directed the fire of his men, sent off a party to evacuate the injured District Officer and subsequently led a charge against the terrorists who scattered. Six terrorists were killed and two home-made weapons recovered as a result of this engagement and there is no doubt that the cool courage and leadership shown by the Headman saved the life of the District Officer.'


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Sold for
£420