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.
