An extremely rare ‘Northern Nigeria 1900’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Battery Sergeant-Major J. Heffernan, Royal Artillery, late West African Frontier Force

Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (54705 Bty:-Qr:-Mr:-Serjt: J. Heffernan. R.A.); East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1897-98 (Serjt: J. Heffernan. R.F.A.) official correction to last four letters of surname; Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, N. Nigeria (54705 B.Q.M. Sgt. J. Heffernan, Royal Field Arty.) naming unofficially re-engraved; British War and Victory Medals (36076 W.O. Cl. 2 J. Heffernan. R.A.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (54705 Bty. Sjt. Maj. J. Heffernan. R.G.A.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (B.S. Mjr. J. Hefferman [sic] D.C.M. R.A.) mounted as worn, light contact marks, good very fine or better (7) £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Simon C. Marriage Collection of Medals to the Artillery.

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D.C.M. London Gazette 25 April 1902: ‘Battery-Quartermaster-Sergeant J. Heffernan, Royal Field Artillery, late West African Frontier Force (Tawari Expedition).’ Army Order 10 January 1903.

L.S. & G.C. Army Order 172 of October 1904, with Gratuity.

M.S.M. Army Order 227 of December 1941, with Annuity.

The following report is taken from the despatch of F. D. Lugard, High Commissioner, to The Rt. Hon. The Secretary of State (London Gazette April 16, 1901):

‘Lieutenant-Colonel Lowry Cole, on the completion of the Mitchi operations, proceeded rapidly from Loko up the Okwa River to join the other two surveys at the rendezvous at Gierko. All three were concentrated there at the beginning of May. On the 9th Colonel Cole marched the whole force against a pagan town named Lemo, who had kidnapped a carrier. The people concerned (Kadaras) are a brave but lawless tribe, who had long defied the power of Zaria and the Fulanis. The town was defended by a 10 feet wall and deep ditch.
The gate was breached by fire from the 7-pr. guns, and Colonels Cole and Morland and Captain Abadie charged it, but being unsupported by the troops, who had not apparently been concentrated for the charge, were forced back again. Colonel Cole was severely wounded by a poisoned arrow in the neck, and Colonel Morland took command. Colonel Morland made fresh dispositions, and formed a regular assaulting party 30 strong under Captain Bryan, who was followed by Captain Abadie with a subsection. These stormed the gate and entered the town, which was full of mud-wall enclosures, and where a sustained resistance was offered, the defenders being only slowly driven back to the rear of the town. The casualties among the enemy were very heavy, while those among our troops were Colonel Cole, severely wounded; and Captains Bryan and Abadio and Sergeant-Major Hefferman [sic], slightly wounded; four rank and file killed, nine wounded, as well as one carrier.
The troops engaged in this affair were:-
Lieutenant-Colonels Cole and Morland.
Captains Bryan and Abadie.
Lieutenants Dyer and Macarthy-Morough.
Colour-Sergeants Hudson and Tucker.
Sergeant-Major Hefferman [sic], R.A, and Sergeant Smith, R. A.
Drs. Grant and Thompson.
One hundred and eighty rank and file, with two Maxims and two 7-prs.
Colonel Cole brings forward for special mention the names of Lieutenant-Colonel Morland, Captains Abadio and Bryan, Sergeant-Major Hefferman [sic], and Dr. Thompson (who sucked the poison from Colonel Cole's wound).’

Lugard also submitted a request to the Secretary of State for the Colonies at the Colonial Office, London, seeking promotion for Sergeant Heffernan, dated January 1st, 1901, which stated:

‘I have the honour to submit for your approval the name of Sergeant J. Heffernan R.A., Local Battalion Sergeant Major, for promotion in the R.A. to the rank of Battery Sergeant Major, or of Battery Quartermaster Sergeant.
He is reported by the Commandant [W.A.F.F.] as “smart and energetic, has taken part in several expeditions, and in 2 actions has been in sole command of the guns; on one occasion of 3 guns and on this occasion of a section. He was wounded at Limu in May, and mentioned by Your Excellency in your despatch to the Secretary of State. He is one of the original members of this Force and has probably missed promotion in the Royal Artillery owing to his long absence in the Colonial Office.”
I had the honour of favourably bringing him to your notice in my despatch, West African Frontier Force No. 99 of July 16th.’

Sold with copied London Gazette despatches and other research.