Five: Private Robbi Surur, King’s African Rifles

East and Central Africa 1897-99, 1 clasp, Uganda 1897-98 (No. 543 Rabbi Surur, Pte., 3 K.A.R.), locally impressed naming in large capitals; Africa General Service 1902-56, 6 clasps, Jubaland, Nandi 1905-06, East Africa 1902, East Africa 1905, East Africa 1906, Somaliland 1908-10 (No. 543 Pte. Rabbi Surur, 3 K.A.R.), locally impressed naming in large capitals; 1914-15 Star (543 Pte. Robbi Surur); British War and Victory Medals (543 Pte. Robbi Surur, 3/K.A.R.) the second with several crude rivets and, like the first, with contact marks, edge bruising and polished, thus fine or better, the Great War awards very fine or better, rare (5) £800-£1,000

Provenance: Richard B. Magor Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, July 2003.

Rabbi Surur enlisted in the 3rd Battalion, King’s African Rifles in 1893, and served with the 3rd Battalion, K.A.R. in Uganda (although his name does not appear on the latest published roll).

All of the ‘East Africa’ clasps are verified, and one of them, for the 1902 operations, is undoubtedly rare, probably less than 100 having been issued. The Nandi roll shows that he was already in possession of the medal, so this would seem to confirm the first clasp for Jubaland.

The 1902 expedition was accompanied by Lieutenant R. Meinertzhagen, Royal Fusiliers, one of whose duties was to avenge the torture and murder of a white settler. When he reached the village concerned, all of the locals were dancing around the mutilated body of their victim, which had also been used as a latrine. Meinertzhagen immediately ordered that all of the offenders be despatched by bullet or bayonet, an order that was carried out to the letter. The local Political Officer, Mr. MacClean, apparently refused to give his consent or to interfere with the punishment.

Rabbi Surur, whose character was described as ‘Exemplary’ on his discharge in July 1916, was also the recipient of a King’s African Rifles L.S. & G.C. Medal, awarded to him in 1911.