Medals Database > By Country > Great Britain (19th Century Campaign Medals)

The British South Africa Company’s Medal

Time Period: Pre-WW1
Year of Institution: 1896
Country: Great Britain

The British South Africa Company Medal is a British campaign medal established in 1896 and sanctioned by Queen Victoria and the British South Africa Company to troops who had been engaged in the First Matabele War. The majority of awards were to colonial and locally-raised troops, rather than members of the regular British Army.

In 1897, the award was extended to those engaged in the two campaigns of the Second Matabele War, namely Rhodesia (1896) and Mashonaland (1897). The three medals are the same except for the name of the campaign for which the medal was issued, inscribed on the reverse.

In 1927, the government of Southern Rhodesia re-issued the medal and instituted a new clasp, to commemorate the Pioneer Column that operated within Mashonaland in 1890. Those previously awarded the medal were required to exchange it for the new version.

The four clasps issued were:

Matabeleland 1893
Rhodesia 1896
Mashonaland 1897
Mashonaland 1890

The British South Africa Company’s Medal Design

The medal is circular, struck in silver and measures 36 millimeters (1.4 in) in diameter. It was manufactured by Heaton and Company of Birmingham.

The obverse shows a left-facing effigy of Queen Victoria wearing a diadem and veil. Around the edge is inscribed “Victoria Regina”.

The reverse was designed by Richard Caton Woodville Jr and depicts 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 the inscription: “BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY”. The recipient’s first eligible campaign is inscribed at the top on all versions of the medal except the 1927 issue.

The ribbon measures 35 millimeters (1.4 in) wide and is watered silk in golden yellow with three dark blue stripes.

The swiveling suspension bar is decorated with shamrocks, thistles and roses. The medals were named to the recipient using a number of different engraved and impressed styles, depending on when the medal was issued.

More British 19th Century Campaign Medals

The Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul Medal

The Candahar, Ghuznee, Cabul Medal was awarded to those who took part in the campaign in Afghanistan in 1842.

The South Africa Medal (1880)

The South Africa Medal (1880) was awarded to members of the British Army, Royal Naval Brigade and Colonial Volunteers for the Anglo-Zulu War.

The Ashantee Medal

The Ashantee Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to British, Colonial, and allied native forces during the Third Anglo-Ashanti War.

The Scinde Medal

The Scinde Medal is a British medal issued to soldiers who participated in Major General Sir Charles Napier’s conquest of Scinde.

The Gwalior Star (Punniar)

The Gwalior Star is a Campaign medal presented to the soldiers of the British Army and Bengal Army who took part in the Gwalior Campaign.

More Medals from Great Britain

Explore the rich history of British military honors through a captivating display of medals from different periods. Use the images below to learn more about the diverse array of decorations that have adorned the uniforms of British servicemen and women throughout history or use the button at the end to visit the entire UK medals database.