First Matabele War 1893 – Raaffs Rangers – British South Africa Company BSAC Medal

This is the rarer 1893 version of the BSAC medal issued for the First Matabele War. The later 1896 medal (issued for the Matabele Uprising) is the far more common version with about 7,651 medals being issued whereas this 1893 version only had 1,596 medals awarded.

Named: CORPL. T. REID. RAAFFS COLUMN

Raaffs column was raised as Raaff’s Rangers under the command of Pieter Johannes Raaff who had seen service in the Zulu War and who was one of the true heroes of the First Matabele War. Raaff’s Rangers (quickly nicknamed Raff’s riff-raff due to the motley assortment of these troops) advanced into Matabeleland with the Southern Column and took part in the Battle of Singuesi River (2nd November 1893).

Raaff’s Rangers are most renowned for taking part in the Column that was sent to capture the Matabele King, Lobengula, under the command of Major Forbes. It was during this advance the famous Shangani Patrol was wiped out, with the men heroically fighting till the last man when they were cut off on the other side of the river from the main body of troops and surrounded by thousands of Matabele warriors. When their ammunition ran low, they were heard to have sang a final hymn before committing suicide. In the aftermath of this defeat, the main column including Raaff’s Rangers were forced by heavy Matabele attacks to attempt to retreat to Bulawayo. The less experienced Major Forbes had lost the trust of his men and Commandant Raaff now effectively took command and very skilfully led the column back to safety despite constant attacks by the Matabele, a lack of food and supplies, horrendous weather and attrition to the horses.

Men like Corporal Reid, suffered greatly on that retreat but were nonetheless able to reach safety thanks to their commander Pieter Raaff. Only 250 medals were issued to “Raaff’s Column” and this is one of them. This is a nice medal to a very interesting unit who took part in this lesser known of Queen Victoria’s little wars.