The British South Africa Company Medal is an extremely interesting and easily recognisable medal. Its obverse showing a bust of Queen Victoria and reverse with the words ‘British South Africa Company’ surmounted by an image showing a speared lion standing above a number of assegais, a knobkerry and shield. The reverse of this medal can come in a number of different types but all examples issued to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers are of the ‘Rhodesia 1896’ type. The medal’s ribbon is distinctive with seven equal stripes of yellow and blue. Just 33 of these medals were awarded to members of the regiment in recognition of their services in operations during the Second Matableland War (also known as the Matableland Rebellion) during which the Ndebele people rose up against the rule of the British South Africa Company. The group comprised of 31 men under the command of Captain Alexander John Godley (later a General and commander of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force) and Captain Arthur Forde Pilson. All were members of the 1^st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers Mounted Infantry and a number of them were additionally awarded medals for later service during the Anglo-Boer War and beyond. Some of the British South Africa Company Medals awarded to members of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers have been recorded with the ‘Mashonaland 1897’ clasp attached which the official medal roll appears to show that the 33 men were entitled to, however they were not and the fact that medal roll would seem to show entitlement has been attributed to clerical error.

The first page of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers British South Africa Company medal roll. Source: National Archives U.K. WO100/77.

Obverse and reverse of the British South Africa Company Medal

Example of the crude style of official naming used on British South Africa Company Medals issued to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers

British South Africa Company Medal and Queen’s South Africa Medal awarded to 3158 Sergeant J. Dardis

 Full list of members of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers entitled to the British South Africa Company Medal