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Auction: 20003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 285

A very rare Great War East Africa operations M.M. awarded to Native Pioneer Kioko, East Africa Pioneer Company

Military Medal, G.V.R. (445 N.Pr. Kioko. E. A. Pr. Coy.), very fine

M.M. London Gazette 29 August 1918.

Understood to be one of 2 awards of the M.M. to the unit.

The East African Pioneer Company was part of General Jacob Van Deventer’s force formed in 1916 with the aim of driving the Germans under Major-General Paul Erich von Lettow-Vorbeck out of German East Africa. The Company was classified as 'Army Troops’ but No. 1 Section was attached to the 2nd East African Division commanded by Major-General M. J. Tighe, and No. 2 Section was attached to the 1st East African Division commanded by Major-General J. M. Stewart. The Company took part in a series of pitched battles and guerilla actions where British forces often suffered heavy casualties, with many more men lost to disease. Kioko survived the war and is believed to have attained the rank of Serjeant; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£1,400

Starting price
£230