Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal
Encyclopedia
The Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal was a British campaign medal awarded to South Africa
n Cape Colonial Forces
. It was authorised in December 1900, as a retrospective award for veterans of three campaigns fought in South Africa between 1880 and 1897.
The medal was issued, on application, to veterans who had served in the Cape Colonial Forces
in the Transkei Campaign (1880-1881), the Basutoland Gun War (1880-1881), and the Bechuanaland Campaign (1896-1897).
The medal is silver. The obverse depicts the crowned head of Queen Victoria, surrounded by her name, style, and titles. The reverse displays the Province of the Cape of Good Hope
coat of arms, with a spray of protea
flowers, and the name "Cape of Good Hope". The ribbon is dark blue with a gold centre band (these being the colours of earlier campaign medals for service in southern Africa).
Clasps were issued to indicate the campaigns in which recipients had served: "Transkei", "Basutoland", and "Bechuanaland". The published medal roll shows that 5252 medals were issued, nearly half of them for the Bechuanaland campaign.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Cape Colonial Forces
Cape Colonial Forces
The Cape Colonial Forces were the official defence organisation of the Cape Colony in South Africa. Established in 1855, they were taken over by the Union of South Africa in 1910, and disbanded when the Union Defence Forces were formed in 1912....
. It was authorised in December 1900, as a retrospective award for veterans of three campaigns fought in South Africa between 1880 and 1897.
The medal was issued, on application, to veterans who had served in the Cape Colonial Forces
Cape Colonial Forces
The Cape Colonial Forces were the official defence organisation of the Cape Colony in South Africa. Established in 1855, they were taken over by the Union of South Africa in 1910, and disbanded when the Union Defence Forces were formed in 1912....
in the Transkei Campaign (1880-1881), the Basutoland Gun War (1880-1881), and the Bechuanaland Campaign (1896-1897).
The medal is silver. The obverse depicts the crowned head of Queen Victoria, surrounded by her name, style, and titles. The reverse displays the Province of the Cape of Good Hope
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
coat of arms, with a spray of protea
Protea
Protea is both the botanical name and the English common name of a genus of flowering plants, sometimes also called sugarbushes.-Etymology:...
flowers, and the name "Cape of Good Hope". The ribbon is dark blue with a gold centre band (these being the colours of earlier campaign medals for service in southern Africa).
Clasps were issued to indicate the campaigns in which recipients had served: "Transkei", "Basutoland", and "Bechuanaland". The published medal roll shows that 5252 medals were issued, nearly half of them for the Bechuanaland campaign.
See also
- British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
- South African military decorationsSouth African military decorationsAn overview of South African military decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.-1894–1913:The colonial military forces received British military decorations in wartime. From 1894, the colonial governments awarded medals for distinguished conduct and for long...