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I'm thrilled to finally welcome a "Jameson Raider" into my collection. It's been 52 years since this medal last appeared on the open market, having spent the intervening decades safeguarded within Dennis Trotter's collection.

A Rare ‘Jameson Raider’ British South Africa Company’s Medal to Captain and Quartermaster James Hutchison Kennedy, Salisbury Field Force, late Salisbury Horse, who was captured by Boer forces during the ill-fated Jameson Raid of 1896 – the fifth highest-ranking officer in the raid, comprising: British South Africa Company, 1890-97, reverse for Matabeleland 1893, single clasp, Rhodesia 1896 (Captn. Qurtr.-Mstr. J. H. Kennedy. Salisbury Horse.).

Early Life

James Hutchison Kennedy was born in Ballineety, Dungarvin, County Waterford, Ireland on 11 December, 1853. Arriving in South Africa in 1872 he saw 12 years of service with the Griqualand West and Cape Colonial Governments, and was described as a ‘jovial, rubicund Irishman’. He arrived in Mashonaland in 1891, a year after the Pioneer Column, and his first post in Salisbury was as Chief Accountant to the British South Africa Company.

Matabeleland Campaign of 1893
“Mentioned in dispatches” by Dr Jameson & Major Forbes

James Kennedy was featured in 'The Downfall Of Lobengula', by W.A. Wills and L.T. Collingridge which recorded the following:

“Major Forbes' Personal Staff included Captain J. H. Kennedy, who has just returned to this country for a holiday, after serving with the Chartered Forces throughout the war. He was for many years in the Civil Service of the Colony of the Caps of Good Hope, and subsequently resided for some time in Johannesburg.

At present, under the British South Africa Company, he holds the appointment in Mashonaland of Master of the High Court at Salisbury, and Chief Accountant in the Chartered Company's territory.

He volunteered for service with the Salisbury Column in Matabeleland at the commencement of the recent war, and joined that Column as Quartermaster, with the rank of Captain, in which capacity he served until the arrival of the joint Columns at Buluwayo, when he assumed the duties of Chief Commissariat Officer.

He has been favourably mentioned in reports both from Dr. Jameson, the Administrator, and Major Forbes, commanding the Combined Columns, and took an active part in the two engagements with the Matabeli.

Captain Kennedy was, at the time of joining the Salisbury Horse, one of the chief officials of the Chartered Company, and at the head of a very important department, yet he was quite ready to join the field force in any capacity whatever, having placed himself entirely in the hands of the officer commanding that force. Such an example had an excellent effect upon the other volunteers.”

After the Campaign of 1893 he remained at Matabeleland and was appointed Master Registrar and Sheriff of the High Court of Matabeleland upon its formation in 1894 and later promoted to Master of the High Court of Southern Rhodesia.

Jameson Raid

It was in 1895 that James Kennedy joined Dr Jameson on his ill fated raid with the same position and rank as for the earlier Matabeleland Campaign. It has been assumed that he accompanied the Raid as a legal re-oraniser of the hoped-for new regime in the Transvaal.

According to Hugh Marshall Hole in his book “The Jameson Raid”, p289, the Composition of Dr. Jameson’s Force Staff Officers was as follows:

In General Charge: Dr. Leander Starr Jameson, C.B.
In Military Command: Lieut.-Col. Sir John Christopher Willoughby, Bart. (Major, Royal Horse Guards)

Staff Officers:
Major Hon. Robert White (Captain, Royal Welch Fusiliers), Senior Staff Officer
Major Charles Hyde Villiers (Captain, Royal Horse Guards)
Captain Kenneth J. Kincaid-Smith (Lieut., Royal Artillery), Artillery Staff Officer
Captain Charles Frederick Lindsell (late Royal Scots Fusiliers), i/c Scouts
Captain James Hutchinson Kennedy (B.S.A. Co.’s Civil Service), Quartermaster
Captain E. Holden (Derbyshire Yeomanry), Assistant Quartermaster
Surgeon-Captain W. Farmer (B.S.A. Co.’s Civil Service)
Surgeon-Captain Seaton Hamilton (late 1st Life Guards)
Lieut. Harold M. Grenfell (1st Life Guards), Remount Officer
Lieut. James Charles Jesser-Coope (Rhodesia Horse Volunteers), Transport Officer.
Veterinary Surgeon-Lieut. A. H. C. Masters (Mashonaland Mtd. Police)

Thus Kennedy was the fifth most-senior officer in the ill-fated Raid.

The next mention by Hole of Kennedy was following Jamesons surrender:

“The Boers now cantered up from all quarters, and while arms were being piled some of them gave hunks of bread and biltong to the famished English soldiers. Four of the principal commandants- Trichardt, who commanded the State Artillery, the above-mentioned Cronje and Potgieter, and Malan of Rustenburg, interviewed Jameson².

2. The interpretation was carried on by Captain J. H. Kennedy, Quartermaster to Jameson’s force.”

Along with the rest of the Column he was captured and after a period of time in prison in Pretoria was deported to England.

Rhodesia Campaign of 1896 & Later Life

Subsequently he returned to Salisbury and resumed his office as Master of the High Court of Southern Rhodesia. In 1896 when the Mashonaland Rebellion broke out he rendered great service to the then Administrator, Lord Grey, earning him the “Rhodesia 1896” clasp to his 1893 Matabeleland Medal.

In 1899 Kennedy married Miss Lily O’Keefe in Cork, Ireland.

He was very active in the affairs of Salisbury. Apart from being a popular after-dinner speaker he was, for a time, a director of the board of Executors, was appointed a member of the Legislative Council and became Chairman of Committees. He was also a trustee of the Salisbury Club and President of the Mashonaland Irish Association.

His entry in the Who’s Who in South Africa 1916 reads:

‘12 years service with the Griqualand West and Cape Colonial Government. Chief Accountant Masholaland 1901. Master and Registrar of the High Court 1894. Judge of the High Court 1895. Chief Commissariat Officer Matabele War 1893 and British South Africa Company Agent and Transport Officer in Mafeking. War Medal and clasp. Chairman of the Tender Boards. High Sheriff 1900. Member of the Legislative Council.’
 
Following pictures courtesy of: www.rhodesia.me.uk/rhodesian-leaders/
Kennedy died in Muizenberg, Cape Province, on 14 February 1916 following a long illness.

Note: A comparable medal to the same recipient, but with different naming details, and apparently with the incorrect reverse type for Rhodesia 1896 (the medal roll, by Forsyth, states ‘Medal 1893 / Clasp 1896’), was offered by D.N.W. on 5 July 2011. The medal listed here is correct in terms of its reverse type and regiment details. Unfortunately Dennis passed away in 2010 and was unable to challenge the Lot.