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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 283

The superb 'Battle of Narungombe 1917' K.A.R. D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Company Sergeant Major R. Hadada, 3rd (Kenya) Battalion, King's African Rifles, a long-served veteran of wide-ranging campaigns across East and Central Africa

King's African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (872 Sjt: Risgalla Hadad. 3/3 K.A.R.); Central Africa 1891-98, 1st issue suspension, (872); East and Central Africa 1897-99, no clasp (872); Africa General Service 1902-62, 3 clasps, Jubaland, Nandi 1905-06, Somaliland 1908-10 (872. Risgalla, Hadadi); 1914-15 Star (872. Sgt. Risgalla. 3/K.A.R.); British War and Victory Medals (872. Sgt. Risgalla Hadada. 3/K.A.R.), mounted for wear, minor contact wear and polishing, overall very fine (7)

K.A.R. D.C.M. East African General Routine Orders No. 257 25 March 1918, which states 'For action 17th July 1917.'

Risgalla Hadad was born in Uganda and attested on January 1893, with an antecedent unit to the 3rd (Kenya) Battalion, King's African Rifles. It is unclear which unit this was, however, Hadad noted upon his service papers that he was a native of the Bari tribe of Sudan. Therefore he could well have been with the Uganda Rifles, a unit which included a high number of Sudanese troops.

Extending his service on 1 January 1899 Hadad was posted to the 3rd Battalion, King's African Rifles. With them he saw action on the Oganden expedition 1900-01, earning his Jubaland clasp and the Nandi Expedition 1905-06 as well as the Kissii Expedition 1908 and a position to Somaliland from 1908-10.

He was still with the unit in the rank of Sergeant when they arrived before the heavily defended German positions at Narungombe. The enemy had dug themselves into a strong defensive position between impenetrable bush on the left and a swamp on the right.

Hadad was with his battalion which served as part of No. 3 Column during the battle, attacking on left of the British line. Ordered to try and work their way around the enemy, the battalion became bogged down in rough terrain and heavy fighting, made worse by a German counter-attack. The position became increasingly untenable as ammunition ran short and the popular Sergeant-Major Awudu Bakano was killed: the situation was saved when Nos. 1 and 2 columns launched simultaneous attacks across the line. Given Hadad's citation it is likely he played a prominent role in steadying the line when the attack faltered. Perhaps for this reason he was promoted Company Sergeant-Major not long after, and was eventuallu discharged on 31 December 1918.

Despite his long service, Hadad's list of disciplinary infractions make it very clear that he was not in the running for a Long Service and Good Conduct or Meritorious Service Medal. Somewhat unusually, Hadad's service papers are available at the British Library (EAP1556/1/2/192 refers); sold together with copied service paper extracts, medal rolls, and his original riband bar.

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Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2000