British South Africa Company Medal
Encyclopedia
The British South Africa Company Medal (1890–97). In 1896, Queen Victoria sanctioned the issue by the British South Africa Company
of a medal to troops who had been engaged in the First Matabele War
. In 1897, the Queen sanctioned another medal for those engaged in the two campaigns of the Second Matabele War
: Rhodesia
(1896) and Mashonaland
(1897). The three medals are the same except for name and date above the lion on the reverse, and the three wordings above the lion denote the campaign for which the medal was issued.
In 1927, the government of South Rhodesia issued a medal to commemorate the earlier 1890 Pioneer Column
. This medal identical to the prior medals, except that it was struck without any campaign details on the reverse.
British South Africa Company
The British South Africa Company was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd., receiving a royal charter in 1889...
of a medal to troops who had been engaged in the First Matabele War
First Matabele War
The First Matabele War was fought in 1893-1894 between the British South Africa Company military forces and the Ndebele people. Lobengula, king of the Ndebele, avoided outright war with the British settlers because he and his advisors were mindful of the destructive power of the European weapons...
. In 1897, the Queen sanctioned another medal for those engaged in the two campaigns of the Second Matabele War
Second Matabele War
The Second Matabele War, also known as the Matabeleland Rebellion and in Zimbabwe as the First Chimurenga, was fought in 1896–97 between the British troops and the Ndebele people....
: Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
(1896) and Mashonaland
Mashonaland
Mashonaland is a region in northern Zimbabwe. It is the home of the Shona people.Currently, Mashonaland is divided into three provinces, with a total population of about 3 million:* Mashonaland West* Mashonaland Central* Mashonaland East...
(1897). The three medals are the same except for name and date above the lion on the reverse, and the three wordings above the lion denote the campaign for which the medal was issued.
In 1927, the government of South Rhodesia issued a medal to commemorate the earlier 1890 Pioneer Column
Pioneer Column
The Pioneer Column was a force raised by Cecil Rhodes and his British South Africa Company in 1890 and used in his efforts to annex the territory of Mashonaland, later part of Southern Rhodesia ....
. This medal identical to the prior medals, except that it was struck without any campaign details on the reverse.
Description
- A circular, silver medal, 36 mm inches in diameter, with an ornate swivelling suspension decorated with shamrocksShamrocksShamrocks is a solitaire game akin to La Belle Lucie. The object is the same as the latter: move the cards into the foundations.-Rules:The game is layout out as in La Belle Lucie: seventeen piles of three cards are placed on the table with one card counting as an eighteenth. Any card that can be...
, thistles and rosesRoseA rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
. - The obverse shows the crowned and veiled head of Queen Victoria with the inscription Victoria Regina.
- On the reverse is depicted the scene of charging lion, wounded in the chest with an assegaiAssegaiAn assegai or assagai is a pole weapon used for throwing or hurling, usually a light spear or javelin made of wood and pointed with iron.-Iklwa:...
. In the foreground are native weapons and a shield, in the background is a bush, and below the scene is inscribed: BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY. The recipient's first eligible campaign and date is usually inscribed at the top. - The ribbon consists of four golden yellow and three navy blue stripes.
Clasps
Four were issued:- Matabeleland 1893 (No clasp issued to those who served exclusively in the First Matabele WarFirst Matabele WarThe First Matabele War was fought in 1893-1894 between the British South Africa Company military forces and the Ndebele people. Lobengula, king of the Ndebele, avoided outright war with the British settlers because he and his advisors were mindful of the destructive power of the European weapons...
) - Rhodesia 1896 (No clasp issued to those who served exclusively in the first year of the Second Matabele WarSecond Matabele WarThe Second Matabele War, also known as the Matabeleland Rebellion and in Zimbabwe as the First Chimurenga, was fought in 1896–97 between the British troops and the Ndebele people....
) - Mashonaland 1897
- Mashonaland 1890
Notable Recipients
- Robert Baden-PowellRobert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-PowellRobert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
- service in: Rhodesia (1896) - Frederick Russell BurnhamFrederick Russell BurnhamFrederick Russell Burnham, DSO was an American scout and world traveling adventurer known for his service to the British Army in colonial Africa and for teaching woodcraft to Robert Baden-Powell, thus becoming one of the inspirations for the founding of the international Scouting Movement.Burnham...
- service in: Matabeleland (1893) ; Rhodesia (1896) - Col. Frank RhodesFrancis William RhodesColonel Francis William Rhodes, CB, DSO , better known as "Frank", is perhaps the best known member of the Rhodes family after his brother Cecil. Trained as a soldier from his youth, he participated in a considerable amount of conflict in different parts of the world...
- Frederick SelousFrederick SelousFrederick Courteney Selous DSO was a British explorer, officer, hunter, and conservationist, famous for his exploits in south and east of Africa. His real-life adventures inspired Sir H. Rider Haggard to create the fictional Allan Quatermain character. Selous was also a good friend of Theodore...
- service in: Mashonaland (1890) ; Matabeleland (1893) ; Rhodesia (1896)