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Auction: 18003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 167

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, S. Nigeria 1905-06 (2764 Pte. Balogun Igbirra. S. N. Regt.), very fine

Awarded for the operations which followed the murder of Owerri District Medical Officer, Dr. Stewart. Having lost his way whilst on his bicycle through the bush, the exact details of his death remain a mystery. Some reports suggest he was murdered as he slept, others say he was savagely cut to death, with pieces of his body eaten as 'juju' whilst being carried from village to village, until finally decapitated and eaten. The result was the whole district took up arms. Severe fighting continued until the troops had captured, tried and hung all those who had been involved. By the close of play the columns had covered well over 1,000 miles, earning two D.S.O.'s at the cost of 1 killed besides 5 officers and 58 other ranks wounded. As for poor Stewart, his skull and bones, minus the hands and left leg were recovered for burial at Calabar (Africa General Service Medals, Magor, refers).

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Sold for
£280