Lot 1762

Description

British New Guinea, Good Conduct Medal. Captain A.W.Butterworth Commandant A.N.C. Engraved.

Entitled to clasp - Tugeri 1897.

Believed only 3 of these medals were issued.

With copy of The Journal of the Orders and Medals Research Society, Vol 28, Autumn 1989, No 3 (204) with an article on this medal and other research.

Regulations for the issue of medals to Members of the Armed Native Constabulary, British New Guinea, for Meritorious Service. Regulation 1. A silver medal having on the obverse the Royal effigy, and on the reverse the words – "British New Guinea, Good Conduct Medal", and suspended by a ribbon of red and blue, shall be issued to members, past and present, of the force of Armed Native Constabulary of British New Guinea as may be directed by the Administrator under these regulations.
The Government Secretary's Office, 13th January, 1900, The Lieutenant-Governor has been pleased to confer the Medal authorized by the Regulations for the issue of Medals to Members of the Armed Native Constabulary, British New Guinea, for meritorious service, dated 27th October, 1899, and published in the official Gazette, No.12, of 16th December, 1899, on the following members of the Armed Native Constabulary:-
Commandant (local Capt.) A.W.Butterworth, Silver medal with clasp "Tugeri, 1897", date conferred 30 Oct., 1899.
Senior-Sergt. Sefa, Silver medal, date conferred 30 Oct., 1899.
Corporal Kimai, Silver medal, date conferred 30 Oct., 1899.

Archibald William Butterworth, born in 1866, in Whitechapel, England; emigrated to Australia in about 1886; appt'd Resident Magistrate and Commandant of the Armed Native Constabulary in 1891; his "active service" in British New Guinea is confirmed (Tugere expedition, 1896, medal and clasp); served in Boer War with 4th Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent as a Lieutenant receiving the Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps; promoted to Captain 18Nov1900; invalided to England Jan1901; in England was gazetted a 2nd Lt in the 4th (Militia) Bn, The King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regt); seconded at the same time for service as a Captain with the Lagos Battalion, West African Frontier Force. and took part in the Aro Expedition of 1901-02 and in the Great War in the Cameroons (Kamerun); accorded the rank of Captain, Queensland Imperial Bushmen; on 30Jul1904 Supernumery 2nd Lieut Butterworth was promoted to Captain and remained seconded; on 22Jul1908 he was transferred to Reserve of Officers, retaining the rank and seniority that he held in the militia; in 1904 he transferred to the Political Service of Nigeria, appt'd District Commissioner of the Ljebu Province and the promoted to Commissioner and President in 1914; he later settled in the Isle of Wight until his death in 1942.
Ex James Spencer Collection.