THE EAST AND WEST AFRICA MEDAL 1887-1900 NAMED TO GUNNER A. ERWIN, ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY, WHO, DESPITE SEEING SERVICE WITH A NUMBER OF UNITS, INCLUDING THE ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY, BOTH MILITIA AND REGULAR ARMY, SPANNING A PERIOD OF ALMOST 35 YEARS, 1884-1919, BOTH AT HOME AND OVERSEAS, APPEARS NEVER TO HAVE SEEN SERVICE IN WEST AFRICA. East and West Africa Medal 1887-1900, 1 clasp, Sierra Leone 1898-99 (renamed, contemporary re-engraved naming in plain block capitals: 44276 GR. A. ERWIN. R.G.A.). Few minor edge nicks, otherwise attractively toned, Very Fine to Good Very Fine and mounted court style for display.
Medal accompanied by biographical details, 3 sets of copied service papers, Royal Garrison Artillery 1884-1896, 4th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles 1896-1901 and Royal Defence Corps 1914-1919, copied QSA Medal roll, confirming Erwin entitled QSA with 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, copied First World War medal index card and Silver War Badge roll, confirming Erwin also entitled Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and Silver War Badge, and copy death certificate.
Alexander Erwin (1866-1949), born 12/9/1866 in Ballymena, county Antrim, was the son of William and Susan Erwin. He enlisted into the Royal Garrison Artillery at the Depot, Londonderry on 12/9/1884, as 44276 Gunner. At the time of enlistment he was 18 years old, gave his trade as labourer and confirmed that he was then serving with the Militia Artillery. Erwin transferred with the rank of Gunner to the 1st Brigade, South Irish Division Royal Garrison Artillery, on 7/1/1885. Promoted Bombardier, 6/1/1887, Erwin reverted to Gunner, 12/7/1887. He was tried and convicted by the civil authorities and sentenced to 56 days imprisonment on 5/9/1888, returning to duty on 31/10/1888. He was again promoted Bombardier, 13/2/1893, transferred to the Army Reserve on 13/12/1895 and was discharged on 11/9/1896. In addition to service at home, Erwin also saw service in Malta, 7/1/1885 to 22/2/1888, Singapore, 16/12/1890 to 21/2/1895 and Malta again, 22/2/1895 to 12/12/1895.
After being discharged, Erwin enlisted into the 4th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (Antrim Militia), on 14/10/1896, being promoted Corporal, 6/7/1898.
Erwin volunteered for active service during the Boer War and saw service in South Africa with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles 28/4/1900 to 16/9/1901 (awarded QSA with 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State), and was discharged, time expired, from the Antrim Militia on 18/4/1901.
After returning from South Africa and being discharged from the militia, Erwin re-enlisted into the regular army as 9399 Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery on 23/10/1901 and was eventually discharged with the rank of Gunner on 22/10/1907.
Following the outbreak of WW1, Erwin enlisted for a third time, into the regular army, on 8/9/1914 as 29616 Private, Royal Defence Corps and was promoted Lance Corporal, 27/3/1915, Acting Corporal, 8/5/1915, Lance Sergeant, 10/7/1915 and Sergeant, 18/8/1915, transferred to the Class "W" Territorial Reserve on 18/5/1918 and was discharged on 13/3/1919 as a result of "sickness". Erwin saw service exclusively at home during WW1, so no medals awarded. WW1 medal index card confirms award of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal whilst serving with the Royal Defence Corps, and also records Erwin as having applied for, but refused, a Meritorious Service Medal, which Erwin no doubt believed he was entitled to as a reward for serving in a wide variety of units, both at home and overseas, during a period spanning almost 35 years, from 12/9/1885 to 13/3/1919
Alexander Erwin died in Glasgow on 13/10/1949.
Although units of the Royal Garrison Artillery saw service in Sierra Leone during the campaign of 1898-99, and although Erwin saw service as a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, he was serving at home exclusively with the 4th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles during the period when the Sierra Leone campaign was taking place, 18/2/1898 to 19/3/1899. There is no record in Erwin's biographical sketch or service records of his ever having seen service in West Africa. This medal thus apparently a "self award" and, as such, an interesting curiosity.
