East and West Africa Medal : Seaman J Bartholomew, HMS St George

East and West Africa Medal 1887 - 1900 with the bar 'BENIN 1897'. The recipient's name and ship are impressed on the edge. Obverse: The crowned and veiled head of Queen Victoria with the legend 'VICTORIA REGINA'. Reverse: A scene of bush fighting around a tree between British soldiers and natives. The medal is fitted with a straight suspender and a single rectangular campaign bar. A piece of 33 mm yellow ribbon with black borders and two thin black stripes down the centre is attached to the suspender.

Awarded to Ordinary Seaman J Bartholomew who served in HMS St George, a cruiser built in 1892. There were 456 medals issued to the ship. The 'Benin 1897' bar was awarded for an expedition to Benin City (6 February - 7 August 1897) against Chief Overiami who was said to be indulging in human sacrifice and slave trading. Lieutenant-Colonel Bruce Hamilton commanded a force of Niger Coast Constabulary and Rear Admiral Rawson commanded the naval force. This medal is part of a collection assembled by the late Hon. Sir Thomas Hughes, Member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. It was presented to the Memorial in memory of his son, Captain Roger Forrest Hughes, Australian Army Medical Corps, who died of wounds in France on 11 December 1916, and of his grandson, Flying Officer Peter Roger Forrest Hughes, 12 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, who was killed on active service while flying in the Northern Territory on 3 October 1942.