Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry
Country	Cape of Good Hope
Type	Military decoration for bravery
Eligibility	All ranks
Awarded for	Gallantry in action
Campaign(s)	8th Cape Frontier War
Status	Unofficial
Statistics
Established	1851
Ribbon bar

In the old days, before South Africa became one country in 1910, there were many special awards for soldiers. These awards were given out in the 1800s and early 1900s. The Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry is one of these special awards. It was given for brave actions after a battle at Fort Cox in December 1850. This happened at the start of the 8th Cape Frontier War.

This medal was created in 1851 by Major General Sir Henry George Wakelyn Smith. He was the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Cape of Good Hope at that time.

The 8th Cape Frontier War: A Tough Conflict

Fort Cox was located inland from King William's Town. In December 1850, there was a lot of trouble in the Eastern Cape. This led to the start of the 8th Cape Frontier War. This war was the longest, most expensive, and bloodiest of the frontier wars.

Sir Harry Smith, the Governor, went to Fort Cox to meet with important Xhosa chiefs. Smith had a reputation for treating the chiefs badly. This had made the Xhosa people very angry. Yet, he still thought they saw him as their Inkhosi Inkhulu, or Supreme Chief.

Sandile kaNgqika

One of the chiefs, Sandile kaNgqika, who was King of the Rharhabe clan, refused to attend the meeting. This meeting was held outside the fort on 19 December. Because of this, Smith declared Sandile to be removed from his position and a runaway. Smith then ordered about 3,000 Ngqika people and their chiefs to capture Sandile. He wanted them to show their loyalty to the British Crown.

This was the final straw for the Xhosa. Fort Cox then came under attack from Xhosa warriors, led by Chief Sandile.

Escaping Fort Cox

Fort Cox was not ready for a long attack. It had no big guns. Also, getting water was very dangerous. Water had to be brought from the Keiskamma River far below. Several tries to help the fort failed. Smith was worried that being trapped would lower the spirits of the Colony. He also feared loyal Xhosa tribes might switch sides. So, he decided to fight his way out.

On 31 December 1850, Smith left the fort. He was protected by about 250 men from the Cape Mounted Riflemen. These soldiers were Khoisan and Coloured men with white officers. Smith managed to get through the Xhosa lines. He safely reached King William's Town, even after an attempt to stop him at Debe Nek. Fort Cox was finally helped on 31 January 1851.

Why the Medal Was Created

Sir Harry Smith was very impressed by the brave actions of the Cape Mounted Riflemen. He created Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry to honour their courage. Years later, when asked who made the best soldiers, Smith said the men from southern France during the Battle of Waterloo were the best. After them, he said the Cape's Hottentots were amazing. He believed they were naturally very good soldiers.

At first, the British government did not approve of Sir Harry creating this medal. But later, they paid for the medals. This showed they recognised it, even if it wasn't officially a government award. Some people believe Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry was the first South African military medal. It was given out before the famous Victoria Cross (1856) and the Distinguished Conduct Medal (1854).

What the Medal Looks Like

The medal is a silver circle, 34 millimetres wide. It has a plain curved bar at the top. This bar connects to the medal through a hole in a claw-shaped holder.

• Front (Obverse): The front of the medal shows a lion under a crown of laurel leaves. The year "1851" is written at the bottom.
• Back (Reverse): The back of the medal is plain. It says "PRESENTED BY" around the top edge. In the middle, it says "HIS EXCELLENCY", "SIR H.G. SMITH BART C.G.B.", and "TO". There is an empty space for the recipient's name. Around the bottom, it says "FOR GALLANTRY IN THE FIELD".
• Ribbon: The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide. It has brownish-red bands that are 7 millimetres wide. These are separated by a dark blue band that is 18 millimetres wide.

Who Received the Medal

About 31 of these medals were given to officers and men of the Cape Mounted Riflemen. They received them for their bravery in battle. We know the names of 23 of these recipients. Out of those, 20 had their names engraved on the medal.

Known Named Recipients

• Paul Arendt
• Piet Jan Cornelis
• RSM William Richard Dakins
• Thomas Dicks
• Thomas Duncan
• Sapper R. Dunning, RE
• Henry Evans
• David Faroe
• Hendrick Ferara
• Fundi
• J. Hassall
• John Keiburg
• Lt. Edward Lister-Green
• John Main
• H. McKain
• John McVarrie
• Francis Meades, CMR
• J. Mouatt, CMR
• Capt. Skead, RN
• Adrian Strauss

Known Unnamed Recipients

• Sgt. Lodewyck Kleinhans
• Sgt. Appolis Lieuw
• Sgt. Maj. Johannes Tass

Medal Status: Official or Unofficial?

Awards created by private individuals or groups are called "unofficial." This means they were not formally approved by the government or the "fount of honour" (the person or body that grants official honours). Because of this, these medals could not be worn with military uniforms.

However, some of these unofficial awards have become very well-known. They are now an important part of South Africa's military history. Four of these unofficial awards are considered very important:

• Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry from 1851.
• The Johannesburg Vrijwilliger Corps Medal from 1899.
• The Kimberley Star from 1900.
• The Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of O'okiep from 1902.

See also

• Harrismith
• Ladismith
• Ladysmith