Africa General Service Medal 1902-1956, Private Abdi Gulaid, Somaliland Camel Corps (Africa General Service Medal...

Africa General Service Medal 1902-1956 with clasps for ‘Shimber Berris 1914-15’ and ‘Somaliland 1920’, awarded to Private Abdi Gulaid, Somaliland Camel Corps. Introduced in 1902 for campaigns on the African Continent, this medal remained in use for 54 years, the longest running British service medal. The two clasps awarded to Abdi Gulaid refer to operations in Somaliland against Mohammed bin Abdullah Hassan, better known as the ‘Mad Mullah’. On 19 and 23 November 1914, a mounted column from Burao, composed of Indian troops and the Camel Corps, attacked the Mullah's forts at Shimber Berris in the Burdab hills. The operation was not entirely successful and further assaults had to be launched the following year before the forts were captured. A certain amount of raiding continued until 1920, when the Mullah and his followers were finally defeated.