The Gambia less than wide at its widest point, with a total area of . About (11.5%) of the Gambia's area are covered by water. It is the smallest country on the African mainland. In comparative terms, the Gambia has a total area slightly less than that of the island of Jamaica. Senegal surrounds the Gambia on three sides, with of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean marking its western extremity. The present boundaries were defined in 1889 after an agreement between the United Kingdom and France. During the negotiations between the French and the British in Paris, the French initially gave the
Gambia Regiment entrenched positions at Wumbiagas, Lieutenant K. Markham-Rose of the Gambia Company was killed. Company Sergeant Major Ebrima Jalu won the African Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his actions during the battle. During fighting around the village of Ngog later in the campaign, The Gambia Company's Lieutenant A. E. Coombs was wounded and later Mentioned in Dispatches (MiD). During later stages of fighting, two other Gambian soldiers, Private Saljen Sidibi and Sergeant Sambah Bah were awarded the DCM. They were also mentioned in dispatches, as was Captain Thurston.In December 1916, the Gambia Company formed part of the Nigerian Brigade that was