BRITISH colonial war medals from India to China, Canada to Australia and Africa were badges given to celebrate British victories and the oppression of indigenous peoples throughout the coveted lands of the indigenous people.
War medals are divided into four classes:
l Medals for gallantry in action or for saving life in peace.
l Medals for war service.
l Medals of commemoration.
l Medals for long service and good conduct
Imperial war medals, with an inscription around the edge giving the rank, name and recipient of the medal, were awarded to famous regiments and members of colonial armies who showed gallantry during the various colonial incursions throughout the British-colonised world.
From Crimea (1854–56), to the Baltic (1854-5), North West Canada (1885), Afghanistan (1878-80) and on African spaces, the British have taken indigenous royal, cultural symbols of power and authority and depicted them as being subservient to the symbol of the lion which they claim to be theirs, having appropriated it long before the arrival of missionaries.
Flag heraldry shown on medals has been used for centuries by colonising forces as an illustration of imperial victorious conquests.
In fact, as early as the 16th Century when the Portuguese began trading with Munhumutapa (1430–1760), in 1596 the Mwenemutapa was awarded a standard (flag), reflecting an adze, a symbol of a tool of labour, by the ‘King of Portugal of Mutapa’, instead of the symbol of the strength and authority of a regent lion, Bateleur Eagle or crocodile.
The Portuguese had already begun the system of subjugation and colonisation of people through the imposition of their symbols over our own.
For instance, the imperial flag is shown on the reverse of ‘The Sudan Medal’ (1896-97), which depicts the half-length figure of Queen Victoria on the obverse with a seated figure of victory and draped flags.
What is most ironic about imperial colonial medals, which were awarded mainly during Queen Victoria’s reign (1837–1901), was that the soldiers of the Crown were being awarded these medals for colonising indigenous people with no consideration for the terrigenous people they raped and killed.
The ‘Victoria Cross’ is the most coveted decoration instituted in 1856, and is still issued to all ranks of the three British services; the army, navy and air force.
The ‘Military Medal’ awarded for ‘bravery in the field’ is awarded to non-commissioned officers and men of the army.
An example of one of the early colonial wars that took place on African soil was the Ashanti Wars (1873-74) on the Gold Coast (Ghana), fought between the British and indigenous Ghanaians who were trying to safeguard their territory and mineral wealth.
Following this war, the British created a medal with the obverse bust of King Edward (1901–1914), cast on the face of the medal, a reverse British lion looking towards the rising sun with native spears and shields at its feet.
A bar inscribed ‘Coomassi’ or ‘Kumassi’ was awarded to those who took part in its defence and relief; albeit while slaughtering the indigenous people.
The Ashanti Medal was again issued to numerous soldiers and officers for the numerous expeditions in East and West Africa.
Although too numerous to mention, these were issued to officers for the following campaigns: Witu (1890), Juba River (1893), Liwonde (1893), Lake Nyassa (1893), Gambia (1894), Benin River (1894), Brass River (1895), Niger (1897), Benin (1897), Dawkita (1897) and Sierra Leone (1898-99), among others.
The Central Africa Medal (1891-98), was issued for operations in Central Africa during 1891 – 1898 and Uganda (1899).
The First Burma Medal was one of the first issued in colonial territory.
It showed the ‘White Elephant of Ava’ (a religious Asian symbol of royalty and leadership), kneeling before a Victorian lion, with the Union Jack and palm trees in the back ground.
On the averse is shown an attacking colonial party advancing towards a pagoda; such symbology was meant to instil subservience and colonial overlord-ship over their new-found territories.
Interestingly, most of the military insignia was either taken from African folklore and symbology or from Greco-Roman mythical cultural figures.
One such example is the ‘Waterloo Medal’ (1815), which bears the image of the Prince Regent George and on the reverse a ‘winged figure of victory’ seated on a plinth.
It is ironic to note that one of the military symbols chosen for coat-of-arms by imperial forces was taken from Shona folklore such as the African lion and elephant, making animal and symbol their own.
Symbols of victory such as the winged figure of victory were stolen by the Imperial authorities during Queen Victoria’s reign.
The ‘First Indian Medal’ (1799-1826), shows the head of Queen Victoria on the obverse with a seated winged figure of victory on the reverse with an inscription: ‘To the Army of India’.
Most of these medals were issued in 1851, at the request and expense of the East India Company, which was not different to Rhodes’ British South Africa Company.
The battles of Indian resistance to colonialism, such as the Battle of Ghuznee, Jellalabad, Kandahar, Defence of Kelat-i-ghilzie, the Gwalior Campaign and the Maharaj-Poor (1843), were inauspicious battles for which British troops were given medals.
In South Africa, ‘Cape of Good Hope General Service Medals’ were issued in 1834/5, 1846/7, 1850/3, 1877/9.
On the obverse is the diademed head of Queen Victoria, with a crouching British lion behind a bush on the reverse.
Again, these medals were issued in recognition for bravery by colonising settler-armies and not the indigenous people who fought and were killed for their rightful land.
In Zimbabwe, many citizens have grandfathers and great-grandfathers who served under the Crown during the First and Second World Wars who were rewarded with a watch, medal or bicycle for their gallant services despite the fact that many survivors are still shell-shocked and permanently maimed from fighting a war that was not theirs.
What good are these badges to them today?
In Zimbabwe we have the ‘Collar of Grand Master of the Legion of Merit’; the ‘Gold Star of Grand Commander, Zimbabwe Order of Merit’ and ‘Silver Star of Grand Commander, Zimbabwe Order of Merit’; ‘Commander, Zimbabwe Order of Merit’ (civil), ‘Medal for Meticulous Service’, ‘Officer, Zimbabwe Order of Merit’, ‘Member, Zimbabwe Order of Merit’, ‘Liberation Decoration’, ‘Commendation Medal’, ‘Independence Medal’, ‘Public Service Long Service Medal’, ‘Long and Exemplary Service Medal’, ‘Efficiency Medal’ and ‘Service Medal’.
Perhaps our liberators can take pride in that the medals they wear brought our country the hard-won independence.
Dr Tony Monda holds a PhD in Art Theory and Philosophy and a DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) and Post-Colonial Heritage Studies. He is a writer, lecturer, musician, art critic, practising artist and corporate image consultant. He is also a specialist art consultant, post-colonial scholar, Zimbabwean socio-economic analyst and researcher.
For views and comments, email: tonym.MONDA@gmail.com