Type Medal | Established 1896, 1897, 1927 | |
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Eligibility First Matabele WarSecond Matabele WarPioneer Column Awarded for Service in the Matabele Wars Description Circular, silver medal, 36 mm inches in diameter. The ribbon consists of four golden yellow and three navy blue stripes. Clasps Matabeleland 1893,Rhodesia 1896,Mashonaland 1897,Mashonaland 1890 | ||
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.
Contents
In 1927, the government of Southern Rhodesia issued a medal to commemorate the earlier 1890 Pioneer Column. This medal is identical to the prior medals, except it was struck without any campaign details on the reverse.
Description
The medal is circular, made of silver, 36 mm in diameter. The obverse depicts a left facing effigy of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem and veil. Around the edge is the inscription Victoria Regina.
The reverse depicts the scene of a charging lion, wounded in the chest with an assegai. In the foreground are native weapons and a shield, in the background is a mimosa 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 medal is mounted on an ornate swivelling suspension bar decorated with shamrocks, thistles and roses. The medal hangs from a ribbon of watered silk in orange with three dark blue stripes.
Clasps
Four were issued:
- Matabeleland 1893 (No clasp issued to those who served exclusively in the First Matabele War)
- Rhodesia 1896 (No clasp issued to those who served exclusively in the first year of the Second Matabele War)
- Mashonaland 1897
- Mashonaland 1890