Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Lieut: W. Ommanney R.E.) very fine £260-£300

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, Medals from an Africa Collection.

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Approximately 58 A.G.S. ‘Somaliland 1902-04’ clasps to the Telegraph Section, Royal Engineers.

Whiteford Ommaney was born in March 1881. He was the son of Captain F. M. Ommaney, R.N., and had two brothers who held commissions in the Royal Engineers. Ommaney’s uncle was Captain Sir Montagu F. Ommaney, G.C.M.G., K.C.B. who was Head of the Colonial Officer, 1900-1907, and his cousin was Rear-Admiral R. N. Ommaney who was Superintended of Chatham Dockyard.

Ommaney was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in January 1900, and he died, 20 April 1911, when ‘Adjutant of the Training Battalion, which took place at Chatham from pneumonia following an attack of measles... The deceased, who had just completed his 30th year, joined the Corps in January, 1900, and was promoted to Captain on 6 January, 1909. He served in the Somaliland operations, 1903-04, being awarded the medal with clasp; his other foreign service was in South Africa from December, 1904, to April, 1909.

The funeral took place at Gillingham (Grange Road) Cemetery on April 25th. Every regiment stationed in the Garrison was represented, and there was also a party of bluejackets from the Royal Naval Depot, Chatam. The firing party was commanded by Capt. B. H. Willbraham... Every R.E. Officer at Chatham was present, and in addition to the Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, Admiral Sir Chas. Drury, a number of other Naval Officers and Officers of the various units stationed in the Garrison.’

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