Obverse: Head of Queen Victoria in a diadem and veil (left). Legend: 'VICTORIA REGINA'. Reverse: a group of soldiers and Africans fighting in the bush for their fallen comrades. Suspended from a bar, and yellow ribbon with a broad black edge and two narrow black central stripes. Bars: 'COOMASSIE', '1887-8', '1891-2', '1892', 'WITU 1890', 'LIWONDI 1893', 'WITU AUGUST 1893', 'JUBA RIVER 1893', 'LAKE NYASSA 1893'. 'GAMBIA 1894', 'BENIN RIVER 1894', 'BRASS RIVER 1895', 'BENIN 1897', 'SIERRA LEONE 1898-99', '1898'. On edge: 'SPECIMEN'.

Those awarded the Ashantee War Medal who later saw service in East and West Africa between 1887 and 1900, added the relevants bars to their Ashantee War Medal.