Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The British South Africa Medal awarded to Lieutenant H. J. A. Hervey, Rhodesia Horse, who was mortally wounded at Sekombe’s stronghold in the Matoppo Hills, 5 August 1896

British South Africa Company Medal 1890-97, reverse Matabeleland 1893, 1 clasp, Rhodesia 1896 (Troopr. H. J. A. Hervey, Salisbury Horse) extremely fine £1600-2000

Hubert John Antony Hervey was born on 19 May 1859, at 47 Eaton Place, London, the youngest son of Lord Alfred Hervey, Member of Parliament for Brighton, and a member of Lord Aberdeen’s Government, holding the office of a Lord of the Treasury and keeper of the Privy Seal of the Duchy of Cornwall. He was later appointed a Lord of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales and later still, Receiver-General of the Inland Revenue. Hubert was also the grandson of the 1st Marquis of Bristol and great grandson of Lord Bristol, Bishop of Derry.

Hubert spent his early years at Castle Upton, Ireland, the home of his father’s cousin, Lord Templeton. He was educated at Mr Darch’s Preparatory School, Brighton; Eton, 1871-74; Neustadt Gymnasium, Dresden and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was employed in London, 1882-92, taking a position in 1891 with the British South Africa Company and travelling to South Africa in 1892. In 1893 he volunteered for service as a Trooper in the Salisbury Horse and saw action at Shangani and Bembesi and in the relief expedition to bring in Forbes’ Shangani Patrol. Having gained the notice of both Cecil Rhodes and Dr Jameson in the recent campaign, Hervey was entrusted with the newly formed Department of of Records and Statistics in Salisbury, an appointment he held from March 1894 until the outbreak of the Second Matabele War in 1896. During this period Dr Jameson made much use of Hervey’s services on special missions. When the Matabele Rebellion broke out, Hervey, who was then an Intelligence Officer and Lieutenant in the Rhodesian Horse, volunteered for active service. In July 1896 he joined the forces being assembled to attack the Matabele strongholds in the Matoppo Hills.

On 5 August 1896, Colonel Plumer, commanding the Matabeleland Relief Force struck out from his headquarters at Sugarbush Camp towards the south-eastern Matoppo hills behind which Chief Sekombe had massed his forces. Arriving at the head of a valley where the impis were known to have gathered, Captain Beresford was ordered to lead a dismounted detachment forward, Hervey being one of their number. Advancing, the detachment was surrounded by Matabele warriors, many of whom were on higher ground than Beresford’s troops. Hervey was ordered to lead some men to dislodge them and occupy a ridge, but in dashing forward he was mortally wounded. The Matabeles were eventually defeated; of their force of about 4,000, 200-300 men had been killed. Of Plumer’s force, out of 760 men, six were killed and 15 wounded.

Hervey died the following day on 6 August 1896, deeply mourned by Rhodes, Jameson and all others who knew him, and was buried in the Umlugulu Cemetery. A prominent cross was erected at his gravesite and memorials to him were placed in Sandringham Church and at The Memorial Hospital, Bulawayo.

With the book: Hubert Hervey, Student and Imperialist A Memoir, By Earl Grey, published by Edward Arnold, London, 1899 - containing his biography, with photographs of the man, his grave and memorial.