TOPIC: QSA with the British South Africa Company Medal

Trio to Pte H Wilde, Rifle Brigade


Picture courtesy of DNW

BSA CM, reverse Rhodesia 1896 (1968. Pte. H. J. Wide. 2/Rif. Bde.);
QSA (5) CC Paard Drie Joh DH (1968 Pte. H. Wide, Rifle Brigade.);
KSA (2) (1968 Pte. H. Wide. Rifle Brigade M.I.)

Provenance: M. Haines Collection, DNW, December 2002.

Henry James Wide was born in Taunton, Somerset, and attested for the Rifle Brigade, 2 January 1892. He passed the course for Mounted Infantry duties at Aldershot in June 1895, and served with the 2nd Battalion contingent of the Mounted Infantry Force in Rhodesia and Mashonaland in 1896. Both the 2nd and 4th Battalions of the Rifle Brigade supplied an officer and 30 men for this campaign. Returning home in June 1897 Wide went back to South Africa on the outbreak of the Boer War and once again served with the Mounted Infantry. He was finally discharged in January 1904.

Picture courtesy of DNW

BSACM, reverse Rhodesia 1896 (1) Mashonaland 1897 (No. 3612 Pte. W. Collins: 7. Hussars:);
QSA (5) CC OFS Tr 01 02 (3612 Pte. W. Collins. 7/Hrs.)

Picture courtesy of DNW

BSACM reverse Rhodesia 1896 (00 (Troopr. L. S. MacDougall. M.R.F.);
QSA (1) CC (904 R.Q.M. Sjt: L. S. MacDougall. Mid: Mtd: Rifles)

Lorne Somerlea MacDougall served with the Matabeleland Relief Force and was ‘slightly wounded in arm while on patrol near Spargos Fort 5th August [1896].’ The Staff Diary entry for the latter date gives ‘Officer Commanding Spargos reports that Trooper LS MacDougall, MRF was fired at and slightly wounded in the arm by a party of rebels in a Kopje about 2 miles from the Fort. MacDougall was on patrol duty.’

In later life MacDougall resided at Belmont House, Somerset Road, Cape Town.

I think that is a particularly handsome pair and one which tends to have been always much sought after by collectors , doubtless, this will continue into the future, the regiment concerned was the only one present, as a complete entity, in Matabeleland who received the medal, William Collins is a most interesting recipient and a very good set of papers remain extant in WO363.

djb wrote:

Picture courtesy of DNW

BSACM, reverse Rhodesia 1896 (1) Mashonaland 1897 (No. 3612 Pte. W. Collins: 7. Hussars:);
QSA (5) CC OFS Tr 01 02 (3612 Pte. W. Collins. 7/Hrs.)

A sadly damaged BSACM where someone has attempted to erase the surname.


Picture courtesy of DNW

BSA CM, reverse Rhodesia 1896 (1) Mashonaland 1897 (4302 Pte. G. G..en. 2/Hamps. Regt.) attempt to obliterate surname, with the medal having been abrasively held in a vice causing damage to high relief parts on both sides;
QSA (6) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (4302 Pte. G. Green, 2nd. Hampshire Regt.)
[KSA (2)]

BSACM, reverse Rhodesia 1896
QSA (4) RoK Paard Drie Tr
KSA (2)

Pte H Digance, West Riding Regiment

Dealer noted as H&B. January 1998 £275.