This page contains a description of the medal,
its history and some
market examples.
Description
This medal was initially sanctioned by Queen Victoria
in 1896 and bears the Old Head of Queen Victoria and the legend ‘Victoria
Regina’ on the obverse while the reverse has the central figure of a
charging, impaled lion above a collection of native weapons and shields.
The reverse was originally inscribed with ‘Matabelend 1893’ and it was later
extended to cover ‘Rhodesia 1896’ and ‘Mashonaland 1897’. The ribbon is
golden yellow with three dark blue stripes placed equally across the field.
The scroll suspender is extremely ornate.
History
The medal was issued to all who took part in the
conflict between the Mashonaland and Matabeleland peoples due to the
relentless expansion of European colonisation in Southern Africa. The
Matabele were a branch of the Zulu people who had broken away from King
Shaka in 1812 and settled initially in present day Tshwane (Pretoria) and
then Bulawayo. They had been named by the Tshwane people, meaning to be
‘chased away’.
Cecil Rhodes and the British South Africa Company (BSAC)
had established a mining rights and territorial concession with the Matabele
people under their king, Lobengula, called the Rudd Concession of 1888, in
an area bounded by the Limpopo and Zambesi Rivers. However, King
Lobengula’s hopes of limiting the influx of white settlers by coming to this
agreement had proven futile as the BSAC set up its own government, passed
laws and envisioned still further territorial acquisition and expansion.
The
First Matabele War November 1893 – early 1894
The first
major clash took place in 1893 when King Lobengula launched an attack
against the troublesome Shona people. Although forbidden by the king to
kill whites, Dr Jameson, the BSAC Chief Administrator used this opportunity
to strike at the war-like Matabele, seize their capital Bulawayo and capture
Lobengula. The king however, withdrew from Bulawayo, burning his capital as
he fled and this was immediately established as the BSAC’s new base for
operations against the Matabele and raiding parties were soon launched. One
such group, numbering 32 under Major Allan Wilson, named the Shangani
patrol, attempted to apprehend King Lobengula, but their retreat was cut off
by the flooded Shangani River and they were killed to a man.
Although
vastly out-numbered, the British colonial troops were well armed and in
particular made use of the Maxim machine-gun, which was devastating against
massed ranks and this was a crucial and deciding factor. King Lobengula
died in unexplained circumstances and this brought the first Matabele War to
an end.
The Second Matabele War March
1896 - October 1897
This
second clash stemmed from dissatisfaction with the BSAC’s administration, an
outbreak of rinderpest and swarms of locust which ravaged the countryside.
A spiritual leader, in his 60’s called Mlimo rose to prominence, promising
the Matabele people a solution to rid the land of the invading Europeans.
The time appeared opportune as the country was thinly guarded as many troops
had been sent to take part in the ill-fated Jameson Raid. This uprising
involved an estimated 50,000 warriors of both the Matabele and Mashona
people. There were many fierce clashes and intense bush-fighting that
ranged from the Matopo Hills to Bulawayo itself, which was besieged. There
were many deaths on both sides.
This
uprising brought to prominence Baden-Powell and the American scout,
Burnham. It was Burnham, accompanied by Bonnar Armstrong who sought out the
sacred cave of Mlimo, laid in wait for him to return and then shot him.
With Mlimo disposed of the rebellion rapidly ran its course and allowed
Cecil Rhodes to enter their stronghold, unarmed to meet with the Matabele
chiefs and negotiate the laying down of arms. Matabeleland and Mashonaland
were then renamed Rhodesia.
The medal
awarded to mark these events, was issued by the BSAC and had three distinct
reverses described above. It could be awarded with one or more of the four
clasps issued, ‘Mashonaland 1890’, ’Matabeleland 1893’, ‘Rhodesia 1896’ and
‘Mashonaland 1897’.
As
late as 1926, during King Edward Vll’s reign, it was decided to issue medals
retrospectively for Mashonaland 1890, in which case the medal is
un-inscribed on the reverse, although issued with a clasp. Those already
awarded the medal had to exchange their awards and a number did not do so.
There were 672 names on the original list but only 200 were issued, 110 to
the BSAC Police (BSACP) and 90 to the Pioneer Column.
Ten men
were entitled to the medal with four clasps, but only one to Trooper M E
Weales BSACP received the award. Fifteen men qualified for a medal and
three clasps and 59 to two bars, the remaining 125 men received the
Mashonaland 1890 clasp, making this the scarcest issue of the series. The
issue of medals lasted from 1928-1946 and they were engraved in London and
Southern Rhodesia, so a variety of naming styles may be encountered.
The
campaign predominantly involved Colonial troops although some Imperial units
were awarded the medal.
Summary
of medals issued:
| (i) BSAC Medal with undated reverse, possible
clasps: |
‘Mashonaland 1890’ |
| |
‘Matabeleland 1893’ |
| |
‘Rhodesia 1896’ |
| |
‘Mashonaland 1897’ |
| (ii) Medal with Matabeleland 1893 reverse:
possible clasps: |
‘Rhodesia 1896’ |
| |
‘Mashonaland 1897’ |
| (iii) Medal with Rhodesia 1896 reverse,
possible clasps: |
‘Mashonaland 1897’ |
| (iv) Medal with Mashonaland 1897 reverse,
without clasp. |
|
