Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal |
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| Country |  UK  Cape of Good Hope |
| Type | Military Campaign medal |
| Eligibility | Cape Colonial Forces |
| Awarded for | Campaign service |
| Campaign(s) | Basutoland 1880–1881 Transkei 1880–1881 Bechuanaland 1896–1897 |
| Clasps | BASUTOLAND TRANSKEI BECHUANALAND |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 1900 |
| Order of wear | |
| Next (higher) | Kabul to Kandahar Star |
| Next (lower) | Egypt Medal |
 Ribbon bar |
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The Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal was a special British medal. It was given to soldiers from the Cape Colonial Forces. They earned it for fighting in three important campaigns. These fights happened in the Cape Colony area of South Africa. The campaigns were in Basutoland (1880–1881), Transkei (1880–1881), and Bechuanaland (1896–1897).
Contents
Why the Medal Was Created
The government of the Cape Colony created the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal. Queen Victoria approved it in December 1900. This medal was given to soldiers who had fought in three past campaigns. These battles took place in South Africa between 1880 and 1897.
The medal went to officers and soldiers of the Colonial Forces. They had to have served actively during the campaigns. These included fights in Basutoland, Transkei (Tembuland and Griqualand East), and Bechuanaland. Three special clasps were also approved at the same time. These clasps showed which campaign a soldier had served in.
Who Received the Medal
Soldiers had to apply for this medal if they had served in the Cape Colonial Forces. They earned it for active service in the field. This also included guarding important places or doing special military duties. However, no medal was given to anyone who had deserted or been dismissed for bad behaviour.
Since soldiers had to apply, the medal was not given to those who had died. This meant that families of soldiers killed in action did not receive a medal. Records show that 5,252 medals were given out. These went to 5,156 different people. Some soldiers received more than one medal if they served in multiple campaigns.
Here's how many medals were given with different clasps:
- Transkei only: 562 medals (556 people)
- Basutoland only: 1,589 medals (1,570 people)
- Bechuanaland only: 2,483 medals (2,422 people)
- Two clasps (Transkei & Basutoland): 490 medals (484 people)
- Two clasps (Transkei & Bechuanaland): 18 medals
- Two clasps (Basutoland & Bechuanaland): 77 medals (72 people)
- Three clasps: 23 medals
- No clasp: 10 medals (It's thought these might have had a clasp, but it wasn't recorded.)
In total, 1,093 Transkei, 2,179 Basutoland, and 2,601 Bechuanaland clasps were awarded. Very few British soldiers received this medal. Only fifteen British soldiers who were helping local units earned it.
The Basuto Gun War (Basutoland Campaign)
This campaign lasted from September 13, 1880, to April 27, 1881. After the Zulu wars ended, the Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Henry Bartle Frere, and Prime Minister Gordon Sprigg wanted to disarm the Basotho people. They ordered them to hand in their guns. Some chiefs agreed, but others refused.
Those who refused, like Lerothodi and Moletsane, soon attacked the chiefs who had complied. In September 1880, they also attacked white administrators. This led to troops being called in, and the Basuto Gun War began. Battles continued until February 1881, when a ceasefire was arranged. Peace was finally made in May 1881. Soldiers who fought in this campaign received the Basutoland Clasp.
The Transkei Campaign
The Transkei Campaign took place from September 13, 1880, to May 13, 1881. The medal and the Transkei Clasp were given for operations in Thembuland and Griqualand East. In these areas, the local Xhosa people were very hostile towards settlers. This was especially true in the districts of Tsolo, Maclear, Matatiele, and Qumbu.
The Bechuanaland Campaign
The Bechuanaland Campaign, also known as the Langeberg Rebellion, lasted from December 24, 1896, to July 30, 1897. In April 1896, a serious cattle disease broke out. To stop it from spreading, all cattle in the area had to be killed. The local Tswana people were very unhappy about this.
As a result, they rose up in protest. Several battles took place. More Colonial reinforcements arrived in July 1897. The conflict ended after a final battle at Langberg on July 30 and August 1, 1897. Most of the Tswana leaders were either killed or surrendered. Soldiers who fought in this campaign received the Bechuanaland Clasp.
What the Medal Looks Like
The medal is made of silver and is shaped like a disk. It is about 36 millimetres (1.4 inches) across and 3 millimetres (0.12 inches) thick. It hangs from a swivelling bar. The soldier's rank, name, and unit were written on the edge of the medal. However, the medals were not numbered.
Front of the Medal
The front of the medal shows a picture of Queen Victoria with a veil. Around the edge, it says "VICTORIA REGINA ET IMPERATRIX". This means "Victoria, Queen and Empress". The medal was designed by Sir Joseph Boehm.
Back of the Medal
The back of the medal shows the Cape of Good Hope coat of arms. Below it, there is a spray of protea leaves and a protea flower. Around the top half of the medal, it says "CAPE OF GOOD HOPE".
The Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres (1.3 inches) wide. It is dark blue with a 12 millimetres (0.47 inches) wide yellow stripe in the middle. These colours were also used for ribbons of two earlier medals given for service in southern Africa.
The Clasps
The three clasps were attached to the ribbon. They showed which campaign the soldier had served in. They were inscribed with "BASUTOLAND", "TRANSKEI", or "BECHUANALAND".
Order of Wear
When someone wears multiple medals, there's a specific order they should be placed in. This is called the "order of wear". Campaign medals are generally worn in the order of the date of the campaign they were awarded for.
In the British order of wear for campaign medals, the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal is worn after the Kabul to Kandahar Star. It is worn before the Egypt Medal.
South Africa's Order of Wear
After April 6, 1952, South Africa created its own set of military awards. The older British medals, like this one, were still worn. However, they were worn after all the new South African medals. The only exception was the Victoria Cross, which always came first.
Among the British campaign medals given to South Africans, the Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal fits in this order:
- It comes after the South Africa Medal (1880).
- It comes before the Queen's South Africa Medal.
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