A Pioneer pair to Lieutenant Frank Hutchinson, Brabant's Horse, late B. S. A. Police

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY MEDAL 1890-97, reverse undated, 1 clasp, Mashonaland 1890 (Tpr., B.S.A.C.P.); QUEEN'S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (Lieut., Brabant's Horse), mounted court style for display, small nick to first, otherwise extremely fine and scarce (2)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The AA Upfill-Brown Collection.

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Frank Hutchinson was a lawyer from England who attested for the B.S.A. Police on 31 March, 1890. He served in D Troop and was a signaller at Fort Tuli before the troop moved from there in December, 1890. He was discharged from D Troop on 31 August, 1891, and by October of the same year had set up as an attorney-at-law at the Causeway, Salisbury. He served as a Lieutenant with Brabant's Horse in the Boer War and died of dysentry, 13 April, 1902, at Harrismith. An archive of original letters written by Frank Hutchinson dating from 1890 until his death were presented to the National Archives of Rhodesia by Mr. Anthony Upfill-Brown on 21 May, 1976. A lengthy article by Hutchinson titled 'A March to Mashonaland' was published by the London Times dated Monday, 10 August, 1891, and describes his journeys with the Pioneer Column. This extremely rare medal was sanctioned by the Southern Rhodesia Government in Gazette Notice No. 267 of 30th April 1926. As the reasons for the medal's existence are not generally known, the Southern Rhodesia Gazette is quoted:'It is hereby notified that His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of a medal with clasp inscribed 'Mashonaland 1890' being awarded to the Colonial Forces who were engaged in the expedition which marched into and occupied Mashonaland in September, 1890, on the following conditions:

(1) The medal, which will be designated the 'Mashonaland 1890, Medal ' will be in silver, and similar to that sanctioned by Her Late Majesty Queen Victoria, to be granted by the British South Africa Company for military operations in Matabeleland, 1893, but with the superscription 'Matabeleland, 1893' omitted from the reverse.

(2) The riband will be identical with that of the Matabeleland War Medal, 1893.

(3) Members of the Pioneer Corps and escort of British South Africa Company's Police who have already been awarded the medal granted for operations in Matabeleland 1893, or Rhodesia 1896, will surrender that medal and receive in lieu thereof the 'Mashonaland 1890, Medal' with clasp 'Mashonaland 1890' and 'Matabeleland 1893' or 'Rhodesia 1896' respectively. Those members who were not entitled to the medal granted for operations in Matabeleland 1893, or Rhodesia 1896, will receive the 'Mashonaland, 1890 Medal' with clasp 'Mashonaland 1890.'

(4) Provided claims are approved by the competent authorities, the medal with clasp will be granted to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks who actually served on the establishment of the Pioneer Corps or British South Africa Company's Police and who entered Mashonaland berween the 1st June and the 12th September, 1890.'

Of the six hundred and seventy two names put forward for the medal, only two hundred were issued- B.S A.Co. Police (110), Pioneer Column (90).