The Upfill-Brown Collection

The medal for Rhodesia 1896 to Captain F. E. Kershaw, York and Lancaster Regiment, one of only two Imperial officers to be killed in action during the campaign

BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA COMPANY MEDAL 1890-97, reverse Rhodesia 1896 (Captn. F. Kershaw, 2/Y & Lancr. Regt.), extremely fine

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

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Captain F. E. Kershaw was seconded to C Squadron, Matabeleland Relief Force, with the rank of Major and was killed in action on 5 August, 1896, at Sekombe's Kraal. The following extract was taken from 'Frontier Patrols' by Colin Harding: At daybreak on Wednesday, August 6th, the whole force, with the exception of 'B' Squadron, two Maxims and a field piece, left for an advance in strength into the hills. Plumer was making for the stronghold of Simomobo, one of the strongest of the insurgent chiefs. The artillery supported by the dismounted detachments under Capt. Beresford, led the way and took up their position on a hill to the west of Simomobo's position at an early hour. Here they started to shell the place. At half-past nine the remainder of the column entered the valley, which they began to cover in half-sections at a gallop. A flag signal from Capt. Beresford warned Plumer that the guns were surrounded and needed reinfocements, though so far they were holding their own. Thereupon 'A' Squadron was despatched to his assistance, while the police squadron and 'C' Squadron of the M. R. F. under Capt. Drury and Major Kershaw respectively, galloped across some mealie fields to the foot of Simomobo's hill, where they left their horses under cover and proceeded to storm the position on foot. The ascent, which was most difficult, was rendered the more unpleasant by a heavy fire from the enemy, who had found shelter in innumerable caves and behind great boulders of granite. The sides of the hill were almost vertical, and it was only with the utmost care that a foothold could be obtained at all. The summit, however, was almost reached when Major Kershaw, well to the front, was shot through the body and fell mortally wounded. Sergeant-Major McCloskie of 'C' Squadron, who followed close on his heels, fell almost at the same instant. On the summit of an adjacent kopje which was secured by Captain Beresford, a portion of the Police Squadron acting in co-operation with 'D' Squadron and the Maxim of the M. R. F., put to flight a large number of the rebels with heavy slaughter. They had first, however, to encounter a terrible fusilade and at one time a concerted charge of the Matabele in which Sergeant-Major Ainslie of the M. M. P. fell shot through the head. On a slight hill to the left, the M. M. P. Maxim under Capt. Hoel Llewellyn, was doing great things, the officer in command displaying great heroism. Endeavouring not needlessly to expose his men, he ordered them to take cover while single-handed he manipulated the gun, and swept down the rebels while they rushed down in large numbers to carry the place. At this juncture a gallant young trooper named Evelyn Holmes, who was orderly to the adjutant, deeming that the odds against his officer were too heavy, rushed to his assistance and paid for his bravery with his life, being shot the moment he reached the gun. One officer and four sergeant-majors were killed in the action, and two of the wounded- an officer and a trooper, died shortly afterwards.