On the 22nd. of November, 1854, a general order was issued, announcing
that the Queen had been pleased to command that a medal should be
prepared, “to commemorate the success of her Majesty’s Forces in the
wars in which they were engaged against the Kaffirs, in the years
1834–5, 1846–7, and in the period between the 24th. of December, 1850,
and the 6th. of February, 1853; one of which was to be conferred on
every surviving officer, non-commissioned officer, and soldier of the
regular forces, including the officers of the staff, and the officers
and men of the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, and Sappers and Miners,
who actually served in the field against the enemy in South Africa, at
the periods alluded to, excluding those who may have been dismissed for
subsequent misconduct, or who have deserted and are absent.”
The obverse has the Queen’s head, with the inscription VICTORIA REGINA.
On the reverse is the lion crouching under a shrub, above which are the
words SOUTH AFRICA, and beneath the year “1853.” The ribbon is orange,
with dark blue stripes. No clasp was granted with this medal for any of
the actions fought during the campaigns between 1834, and 1853. The same
medal, or rather one similar, with the substitution of crossed assegais
and a shield in the exergue, instead of the date 1853 (ribbon the same),
was given for the campaigns in Kaffraria, Basutoland, and Zululand;
against the Galekas and Gaikas 1877–78, the Griquas 1878, Basutos 1879,
Zulus 1879, and Sekukuni 1878–79. The dates of the campaigns are given
on the only clasp issued.
[Illustration]
CAMPAIGNS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
1834–5.
The aggressions of the Kaffir tribes, which were divided into three
nations, the Amapondas, the Tambookies, and the Amakosa, about this time
assumed a formidable and an atrocious character before unknown. The
colonial boundary extended, on one side, to the Keiskamma; but a chief
named Macomo had been permitted to reside within the British territory.
Owing to some outrages committed by him and his followers on the
Tambookies, he was deprived of the lands he held by sufferance in the
British territory. His expulsion, however, was not strictly enforced
until 1833, when he was removed beyond the boundary, and he became
violently incensed against the government. The predatory habits of the
Kaffirs also led to disputes when the British were searching for stolen
property, and the lenity observed towards the aggressors, emboldened
them to become more violent in their attacks. Towards the end of 1834,
multitudes of Kaffirs rushed into the colony, and commenced the work of
murder, rapine, and devastation by fire amongst the settlers. The ruins
of once flourishing farms spoke of savage vengeance. Graham’s Town was
barricaded, and the houses turned into fortifications. Troops were
ordered to the frontier, and preparations were made to carry hostilities
into the heart of Kaffirland, to visit with necessary chastisement these
aggressions, and to take measures to prevent the recurrence of similar
outrages.
The forces which were assembled for operations beyond the eastern
frontier, were distributed into four divisions. The first division,
(with which were the head-quarters of the Commander-in-Chief,
Major-General Sir Benjamin D’Urban, K.C.B.,) was commanded by
Lieutenant-Colonel Peddie, K.H., of the 72nd. Highlanders, and consisted
of two guns Royal Artillery, a detachment of Cape Mounted Riflemen,
72nd. Highlanders, first battalion Provisional Infantry, and the
Swellendam Burgher Force. The second was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
Somerset, K.H., and was composed of two guns Royal Artillery, Cape
Mounted Riflemen, (head-quarter division,) the George, Uitenhage, and
the Albany Burgher Forces. The third, commanded by Major Cox, of the
75th. regiment, consisted of two guns Royal Artillery, detachment Cape
Mounted Riflemen, second battalion Provisional Infantry, detachment
Swellendam Burgher Force, Beaufort Burgher Force, and the Kat River
Legion. The fourth, under Field Commandant Van Wyk, consisted of the
Somerset Burgher Force.
Colonel Smith, C.B., (afterwards the celebrated Sir Harry Smith, of
Aliwal,) was appointed second in command, continuing at the same time in
the performance of his duties as Chief of the Staff to the United
Regular and Burgher Forces; on the 26th. of March, 1835, he led a
well-directed inroad into the enemy’s country; the Buffalo Mountains
were penetrated, and the combined and successive operations in
Kaffirland were eminently successful, numerous heads of cattle, the
great wealth of the enemy, being captured.
On the 24th. of April, 1835, it was declared that the troops were in a
state of hostility with the Kaffir tribes of the Chief Hintza, but it
was decided that no kraals or huts should be burnt, and that the gardens
and cornfields should be foraged in a regular manner.[72] The operations
of the troops were so successful that Hintza sued for peace, which was
concluded personally with that chief by the end of the month.
To give some idea of the difficulties inseparable from these campaigns,
it may be sufficient to state that in the expedition beyond the mouth of
the Bashee, Colonel Smith, with his force, composed of detachments of
the 72nd., Cape Mounted Riflemen, and some colonial levies, in seven
days marched two hundred and eighteen miles, overcame all opposition,
crossed and re-crossed this large river, of very difficult banks, and
brought off from its further side three thousand head of cattle, which
had been plundered from the colony, besides rescuing from destruction a
thousand of the Fingo race, who would have fallen a sacrifice to the
Kaffirs.
The difficult and laborious service of conducting the British
missionaries and traders, with their families and effects, (previously
brought in from the Bashee by Captain Warden,) the Fingo nation,
amounting to more than ten thousand souls, from the eastern side of the
Kei, into the colonial border, was accomplished by Colonel Somerset,
with the second division.
It is a singular fact that the tribes were found to possess many guns,
but without ammunition, and strenuous exertions were used to prevent
gunpowder being conveyed beyond the boundary of the eastern frontier by
importers and retail dealers.
Major William Cox, of the 75th. regiment, made a very successful series
of operations in the mountains of the Chumie, Amatola, and Keiskamma
range during the end of July, and beginning of August, 1835, which
resulted in an interview with Macomo and other chiefs, when a
provisional cessation of hostilities was agreed upon.[73]
During September some effectual excursions were made by Lieutenants
Moultrie and Bingham, of the 75th., which caused them to be thanked in
orders by the Commander-in-Chief at the Cape, (Major-General Sir
Benjamin D’Urban, K.C.B.,) who also therein praised the cool and
soldier-like conduct of Private Thomas Quin, of that regiment, on the
15th. of that month.
Peace was not finally concluded until the following year. On the 8th. of
August, 1836, a despatch was received at the Cape, from the Secretary of
State for the Colonies, communicating to the troops employed in the
Kaffir war, that “It affords His Majesty high gratification to observe
that in this new form of warfare, His Majesty’s forces have exhibited
their characteristic courage, discipline, and cheerful endurance of
fatigue and of privations.”—(Signed) GLENELG.
The 27th., 72nd., 75th., and Cape Mounted Riflemen, were the regiments
employed during this campaign.