French Dahomey Expedition Medal 1892 Accession Number: RELAWM14776

Description

Dahomey Expedition Medal 1892. Unnamed as issued. Obverse: The head of La Republique wearing a winged helmet facing left with 'REPUBLIQUE' on the left and 'FRANÇAISE' to the right, all contained within a bound laurel wreath. The engravers name is at the base. Reverse: A radiant star over 'DAHOMEY' with flags and anchor underneath surrounded by a bound laurel wreath on the circumference. The medal is fitted with a loose ring suspender and a piece of 37 mm yellow ribbon with four 5 mm black stripes.

Contextual Description

Awarded to the French Foreign Legion and other colonial troops who took part in the Dahomey Expedition of 1892 to annexe that part of West Africa into the French empire. France's interests in Dahomey were both geographic and political. Since the 1870s military campaigns had extended French rule south from Algeria and east from Senegal. The French campaign in Dahomey was designed to secure ports in West Africa and to prevent Germany and Britain expanding their colonies in the region.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 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.

Details

Conflicts

• 19th century

Places

• West Africa

Units

• French Army

Tags

• French awards and medals