Medal - British South Africa Company's Medal 1890-1897, Queen Victoria, Great Britain, 1896

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Summary:: Great Britain
Rhodesia 1896
British South Africa Company's Medal 1890 - 1897
Rhodesia 1896,
Mint: Royal, London
Other Details: British South Africa medal for service in Rhodesia, awarded to John Henry Collison Close, Trooper B.S.A. Police. Close was born in Sydney. He served in Rhodesia during the South African War and later became a teacher of physical culture at Sydney. He later took part in Mawson's expedition on the 'Aurora', was a member of the Main Base Party (Adelie Land) and several sledging parties, and spent two summers and one winter in the Antarctic.
BSA = British South Africa Police of whom 688 were involved.
" In March, 1896, the Matabeles, under Chief Olimo, revolted and were joined by native police in the Insega and Filibusi districts. .. Relief forces were formed which took the names of the Bulawayo Field Force and the Matabeleland Relief Force, and others..." (British Battles and Medals p. 173)
Description:: A silver medal (36mm diameter) with mount and ribbon. The obverse features a veiled and diademed head of Queen Victoria facing left; around, VICTORIA REGINA. The reverse depicts a charging lion leaping over a shield and assigais although speared in the chest; around above, RHODESIA 1896; around below in two lines, BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY.The edge engraved in upright capitals: TROOPER J.H. CLOSE B.S.A. POLICE

Discipline:	Numismatics
Dimensions:	36 mm (Diameter)

Tagged with:	wars conflicts, mrf
Themes this item is part of:	John Henry Collison Close, Antarctic Expeditioner (1878-1949), Public Life & Institutions Collection, HM Queen Victoria (1819-1901)
Primary Classification:	MEDALS
Secondary Classification:	Military Campaigns
Tertiary Classification:	army campaigns
DateEra:	1896 AD
Obverse Description:	A veiled and diademed head of Queen Victoria facing left; around, VICTORIA REGINA.
Reverse Description:	A charging lion leaping over a shield and assigais although speared in the chest; around above, RHODESIA 1896; around below in two lines, BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY.
Edge Description:	TROOPER J.H. CLOSE B.S.A. POLICE
Inscriptions:	VICTORIA REGINA RHODESIA 1896 BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY TROOPER J.H. CLOSE B.S.A. POLICE
Shape:	Round with mount and ribbon
Material:	Silver
Place & Date Depicted:	Zimbabwe, 1896
Issued By:	HM Queen Victoria, England, Great Britain, 1896
Awarded To:	John Close, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1896