Medal group of Colonel Lord Frederick Lugard, 1880-1936

The medal group includes the Distinguished Service Order 1887; 2nd Afghan War Medal 1878-80; Egyptian Campaigns Medal 1882-89 with clasps 'Suakin 1885' and 'Tofrek'; India General Service Medal 1854-95 with clasps, 'Burma 1885-7' and 'Burma 1887-89'; Imperial British East Africa Company's Medal 1854-95; Royal Niger Company's Medal 1886-97 with clasp 'Nigeria 1886-1897'; East and West Africa Medal 1897-1900 with clasp '1898'; Africa General Service Medal 1902-56 with clasps 'North Nigeria' and 'North Nigeria 1903'; King George V Coronation Medal 1911; Jubilee Medal 1935; and the Khedive's Egyptian Star 1882-91.

A soldier, explorer and administrator, Lugard helped establish British rule in Africa during the 1890s and 1900s. On behalf of the British East Africa and Royal Niger Companies, he led armed columns on treaty-making explorations that opened up areas for trade. Primarily aimed at countering German and French influence, these led to the annexation of what is now Uganda and the creation of the unified Nigeria colony. In 1914, Lugard became Nigeria's first Governor-General, having earlier also helped raise the West African Frontier Force.

Commissioned into the Norfolk Regiment in 1878, Lugard's campaign medals reflect his military service which included participation in the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), the 1st Sudan War (1883-1885), the 3rd Burma War (1885-1887), the Sudan-Niger Campaign (1897).