Africa General Service Medal 1902-56. EDVII silver issue with clasp 'Somaliland 1902-04' (216 Sepoy Fateh Ali. 101 / Gren:)

Medal & Clasp Verification: The recipients entitlement to the medal and clasp is confirmed per the below referenced medal roll

- AGS 1902 & clasp 'Somaliland 1902-04': WO 100/102. Roll signed Quetta Cantonment 29/04/1910

The recipient Fateh Ali, was an Indian soldier of the Mussalman faith who held the rank of 'Sepoy' (Private) while serving with the 101st Grenadiers of the Indian Army

101st Grenadiers: With its roots in the Bombay Presidency Army of the Honourable East India Company, the original regiment was formed at Bombay in 1779 of drafts drawn from the Grenadier companies from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Battalions of Bombay Sepoys, and of 2 x complete companies from the Marine Bn, and was originally designated, 8th Bombay Battalion. By the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, the descendent regiment, that was styled The 101st Grenadier in 1903, had earned an impressive tally of  Battle Honours by 1914:

- Mangalore
- Mysore
- Hyderabad
- Kandahar 1880
- Afghanistan 1878-80
- Burma 1885-87
- Somaliland 1901-04

In 1903, the class composition of the 101st Grenadiers was; 4 x companies of Mahrattas (Hindus); 2 x companies of Rajputna Mussalmans & 2 x companies of Punjabi Mussalmans 

In 1922, The 101st Grenadiers became the 1st Battalion 4th Bombay Grenadiers, and in 1945 became 1st Battalion The Grenadiers. The descendent unit was one of four Indian Infantry battalions specially chosen to form the newly raised Brigade of Guards of the Indian Army, when it became 2nd Battalion Guards, and continues to thrive as 2 / Guards in the Indian Army of 2026

In addition to the battle honour 'Somaliland 1901-04' that was awarded for their collective services in the hard-fought campaign against the 'Mad Mullah', the 101st Grenadiers also had strong Victoria Cross associations

While serving in Somaliland, 101st Grenadiers had the distinction of being commanded by a Victoria Cross recipient Lt-Colonel Charles Melliss V.C. (who had been 4 x times wounded-in-action and decorated with the VC for his services in the Ashanti Campaign 1900), and having a British Officer of the regiment, Captain George Murray Rolland decorated with the Victoria Cross - one of only 5 x Victoria Crosses awarded for the Somaliland Campaign 1902-04. The inspirational Victoria Cross recommendation for Captain Rolland was published in the London Gazette of 7 August 1903, as under:

Quote,

During the return of Major Gough’s column to Donop on the 22nd April last, after the action at Daratoleh, the rear-guard got considerably in rear of the column, owing to the thick bush, and to having to hold their ground while wounded men were being placed on camels. At this time Captain Bruce was shot through the body from a distance of about 20 yards, and fell on the path unable to move. Captains Walker and Rolland, two men of the 2nd Battalion King’s African Rifles, one Sikh and one Somali of the Camel Corps were with him when he fell. In the meantime the column being unaware of what had happened were getting further away. Captain Rolland then ran back some 500 yards and returned with assistance to bring off Captain Bruce, while Captain Walker and the men remained with that Officer, endeavouring to keep o f the enemy, who were all round in the thick bush. This they succeeded in doing, though not before Captain Bruce was hit a second time, and the Sikh wounded. But for the gallant conduct displayed by these Officers and men, Captain Bruce must have fallen into the hands of the enemy

Unquote.

Condition: About VF

Code: 26071