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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 194

(x) Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Aro 1901-1902 (Pte. Iloloma. Aro F.F.) good very fine

Note, One of only four men on the roll ranked as a court messenger.

A report on the operations of the Aro Field Force is given in the dispatch of Commissioner R. Moor, published in the London Gazette of 12 September 1902, starting with its goals:

'The objects of the expedition were:

a) To abolish the slave trade which was actively carried on throughout the entire territories belonging to and dominated by the Aro tribe.

b) To abolish the fetish of the Aros known as "Long Juju," which, by superstition and fraud caused many evils amongst the Ibo tribes generally, and to all the outlying tribes of the entire protectorate, who continually appealed to it. While this Juju existed, it was impossible to establish effective government in the territories.

c) To open up the whole of the Ibo country lying between the Cross River and the Niger to civilization and trade of collecting the natural products of their country and developing it to the best advantage.

d) To introduce a currency in lieu of slaves, brass rods, and other forms of native currency that existed in the territories, and which from their nature and cumbersomeness were opposed to advance in any direction.

e) Finally, to establish throughout the territories a labor market to take the place of slavery.
A few days before the operations commenced a most deplorable massacre of some 400 men, women and children, mostly women and children, was carried out in the hinterland of the Opobo district, at a town called Obegu. The Aros had long threatened to attack the tribes friendly to the government, and though the people of Obegu had been warned to keep careful watch, they were unfortunately caught napping by a conglomerate force of the various sections of the Aro tribe, together with other Ibos unfriendly to them, and their town was destroyed with the slaughter of the people above mentioned. This gave another object and duty to the Field Force, viz., that of capturing and bringing to justice the natives responsible for this bloodthirsty massacre, in the carrying out of which one section of the Aro tribe alone, the Abams, who were great head hunters, are reported to have obtained 200 heads.

I am able to state with certainty that the objects of the expedition detailed in paragraph 2 of this dispatch have been effectively carried out in so far as could be done by military operations. The slave trade has been abolished, the evil fetish of the Aro tribe has been broken, the entire colony has been opened up, and the natives are already beginning to engage in legitimate trade in place of the traffic in human beings, and a currency of British coinage has been introduced which the natives are now gladly accepting in lieu of slaves, brass rods, manillas etc.'

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£260

Starting price
£100